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Francesco Bagnaia
- Team Ducati Lenovo Team
- Bike Ducati
- Nation Italy
- Date of birth 14/01/1997
- Place of birth Torino, Italy
- Debut Qatar, 2019 (Ducati)
Francesco Bagnaia was just 10 years old, but clearly remembers Casey Stoner's red rampage through the 2007 season en route to Ducati's first MotoGP championship. Fifteen years and zero Ducati titles later, 'Pecco' is pegged as the man to end a drought that seems unbelievable, and has talent and time on his side.
Bagnaia came of age at the end of 2021, a pile of pole positions and race wins seeing him installed as many experts' pre-season favourite. His late-season run was too late to stop Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha taking the crown, but Ducati clearly has its ace to take on Quartararo/Yamaha and Suzuki/Joan Mir for years to come.
The Italian had the best result of an otherwise torrid MotoGP rookie campaign in Australia in 2019, when he took fourth and looked like he belonged at the front for the first time. It's a feeling that hasn't changed since.
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