Francesco Bagnaia Leaves Ducati for Aprilia

Francesco Bagnaia will leave Ducati at the end of the season, joining Aprilia as the team's most successful rider ever and a two-time champion.

Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali has responded to controversy over the team's 2027 line-up, which will feature Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta.

Bagnaia's form dropped off after Marquez's arrival in 2025.

The Italian rider will be replaced by KTM's Pedro Acosta, who has already had some notable duels with Marquez this season.

Domenicali stated that performance is the key criterion for choosing riders, not their nationality.

Ducati will run their first line-up without an Italian in 17 years, with the last being in 2010 with Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden.

The team is aiming to win the World Championship, and Domenicali is pushing for an Italian rider, Nicolo Bulega, to join the team.

Domenicali also discussed the current season, with Ducati facing competition from Aprilia, and Marquez currently in fifth place in the riders' standings.

The executive believes that the rest of the season will be tough, with four riders ahead of Marquez.

Domenicali is hoping that Marquez will return to his previous form after the summer break.

The decision to replace Bagnaia with Acosta has raised some eyebrows, but Domenicali is confident that the team has made the right choice.

Bagnaia will leave Ducati as a two-time champion and the team's most successful rider ever.

The Italian rider will join Aprilia, where he will compete against his former teammates.

Domenicali's announcement has eased some tensions, but the decision is still controversial among some fans.

The 2027 season will be an exciting one, with several talented riders competing for the top spot.

Ducati is aiming to win the World Championship, and with Marquez and Acosta on board, they have a strong chance of achieving their goal.