Francesco Bagnaia is on the verge of sealing a blockbuster move to Aprilia for the 2027 MotoGP season after allegedly rejecting a proposed pay cut on Ducati contract extension offer.
Reports claim the two-time MotoGP world champion is in the final stages of sealing a two-year deal with the Noale-based outfit to ride alongside Italian compatriot and close friend Marco Bezzecchi.
This development comes after Ducati reportedly poached Pedro Acosta from KTM to slot beside Marc Marquez in the factory lineup for 2027 with rumours indicating Bagnaia turned down a proposed pay cut.
According to PaddockGP, Bagnaia, whose Ducati contract is bound to expire at the end of 2026, was apparently offered renewal for 2027 contingent on a substantial salary reduction which undervalues his status as a proven title winner.
Ducati seems to have pivoted on Pecco’s underwhelming 2025 season aboard the Desmosedici GP, marred by inconsistency, crashes, and injuries culminating in a frustrating runner-up finish that fell short of expectations.
Bagnaia’s agent, Gianluca Falcioni, has been engaging in discreet negotiations with multiple manufacturers including Yamaha who are searching for a marquee rider to spearhead their V4 engine transition following Fabio Quartararo’s rumored switch to Honda.
It is believed that Yamaha had put together a big-money offer to secure Bagnaia’s services, however, pre-season testing exposed their struggles with reliability and outright pace prompting Pecco to pivot towards Aprilia, whose RS-GP demonstrated stronger adaptability during the Sepang and Buriram tests.
Reports indicate CEO Massimo Rivola has ultimately convinced Francesco Bagnaia to join Aprilia for 2027 MotoGP on a two-year deal that will potentially see him sacrifice up to £3.5 million annually compared to Yamaha’s more lucrative overtures.
The 29-year old rider confirmed that he has “just decided” on his future during recent pre-season testing in Buriram, Thailand, fueling speculation that an official announcement is imminent.
“I’m fully focused on the test and on the first race,” he said. “In a few days, all of the announcements of all the teams will come. So, wait for mine.”
Asked if that meant he’d made a decision, he responded: “Yeah, I’ve just decided…”
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