Carlo Pernat: Bagnaia and Ducati Split Should Have Come Sooner

Pernat Points to a Partnership That Outlasted Its Peak

Veteran motorcycle racing manager Carlo Pernat has made his position clear: Francesco Bagnaia and Ducati should have gone their separate ways earlier than they did. The comments come as Marc Márquez continues to build momentum inside the Ducati factory structure, drawing fresh attention to how the Italian manufacturer is reshaping its rider lineup.

Pernat, one of the most experienced figures in the MotoGP paddock, has long been a vocal observer of rider-team dynamics. His view is that the working relationship between Bagnaia and Ducati had already passed its most productive phase before the formal separation was arranged. While Bagnaia delivered back-to-back MotoGP world championships for Ducati, the trajectory of the partnership appeared to shift as Márquez entered the picture.

Márquez Moves Up Inside the Ducati Camp

Marc Márquez joined the Ducati setup and quickly made his presence felt. The eight-time world champion has long been regarded as one of the most competitive riders in the history of the sport, and his integration into the Ducati family has added a new competitive layer within the team's hierarchy.

Pernat's remarks reflect a broader conversation that has been circulating in the MotoGP community: whether Ducati's focus shifted toward Márquez at a point when Bagnaia still held the number-one plate. Managing two elite riders with championship ambitions under one manufacturer umbrella is rarely straightforward, and the tension between supporting a reigning champion and integrating a high-profile new arrival is exactly the kind of situation Pernat appears to be referencing.

For Bagnaia, the situation represents a significant career crossroads. After delivering Ducati consecutive titles, he now finds himself seeking a fresh environment to reestablish himself as the clear leader of a project. Whether that move ultimately benefits him will take time to judge.

What This Means for the MotoGP Landscape

Ducati's ability to attract and retain top-tier talent has been central to its dominance in MotoGP over recent seasons. The Italian manufacturer has supplied machinery to multiple grid slots and has benefited from a depth of competitive hardware that few rivals can match. Placing Márquez within that structure gives Ducati a rider whose hunger for titles is well documented.

Pernat's observation adds a layer of scrutiny to how that transition was handled. A cleaner, earlier break, in his view, might have given both Bagnaia and Ducati more clarity going into the current competitive cycle. Instead, the overlap created a period of uncertainty that served neither party as well as a crisper decision might have.

The MotoGP grid continues to evolve rapidly, with rider contracts and manufacturer allegiances shifting in ways that reflect the high stakes of a sport where margins are razor-thin and momentum is everything. Pernat's comments, grounded in decades of paddock experience, carry weight precisely because he has watched these dynamics play out many times before.

How Márquez performs as the season progresses, and how Bagnaia responds in his new chapter, will ultimately determine whether Pernat's assessment proves correct.