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Francesco Bagnaia says the new Ducati gave him confidence at Valencia, hopes to push Marc Marquez harder in MotoGP 2026.
After a difficult season in 2025, Francesco Bagnaia is managing his expectations for MotoGP 2026. He aims to challenge reigning champion Marc Marquez, but is cautious not to make any unrealistic promises. Bagnaia was pleased with the new Ducati GP26 components he tested in Valencia, and feels encouraged heading into the upcoming Sepang test. Despite struggling with the GP25 last year, Bagnaia is optimistic about the improvements made on the new bike for the upcoming season. His goal is to be competitive from the start, fight with other fast riders, and have a stronger championship campaign than the previous year. Bagnaia will also engage in Superbike training before the official MotoGP test in Sepang from February 3-5.
