An extraordinary season

An extraordinary season for us all, privileged as we are to belong to a group that writes yet another page of sport history: 4th consecutive Riders' title, with 3 different champions, 6th constructors' title in a row won with 768 points, almost twice as many as our rivals, while the top 3 positions in the team classification have our name tag on them. 17 GPs were won out of the 22 scheduled; we scored 12 Pole Positions and 19 Sprint Races and we notched a record streak of 88 consecutive podiums on which featured at least one Ducati.

These numbers cast an immediate and eloquent image, while the philosophy of the way of being, working and winning provide it with the right light and colour. And so it is for us, for Marc and his amazing Championship: 545 points, 11 GPs, 8 Pole and 14 Sprint Races with 10 one-two wins, 7 of them in a row. He is the first Ducati rider to put together 15 consecutive Sprint and GP wins, the first to stand on the podium for 11 races in a row, and the first to conclude the season with more than ten wins in both Sprint and GP races. But what is equally important, indeed more so, is that his return, his getting back to the grid, initially in a satellite team, his persistence and enthusiasm are the quantum of an ambition that is not economic, but that of a Champion who has firmly wanted to rediscover the sensations lost in his veritable odyssey of recent years: the spark in his eyes is the sign of an adventure which is human well before that of sport, lived with the humility of a rider who feels he has always something to learn. The determined will of a rookie and the experience of a veteran: he is an example for everyone and an honour for the Factory Team to have him “on-board”.

The same official Team that, instead, suffered for Pecco to whom luck spared nothing, it must be said. Especially in the final part of the championship he failed to collect as much as he could have had, even in non-optimal situations. Surely things had to unfold differently, but if one adds ill luck to the mix, everything becomes a hell of a lot more difficult, for Team and rider alike. To draw valuable lessons, I am convinced that such situations must be absorbed as if they were antibodies, in order to draw from them even more determination to move on and return to one’s former self. In other words, a lesson to be learned: after all, in 2026 we will inevitably encounter major unknowns to be dealt with, so we might as well treasure what has happened in our recent past.

Alex Marquez recorded an important evolution that placed him among the absolute protagonists, undoubtedly deserving the official bike for next season.

Diggia, for his part, notched a remarkable second half of the season, in a crescendo of important podiums in Australia and especially at Valencia where he placed twice in third spot between Saturday and Sunday. Ducati has always had an eye for youngsters: they are important, we care a lot about them and it is a great satisfaction to see them achieve great results and even score a win in their rookie season in top class. Bravo Aldeguer! Bulega completes the picture: not only in qualifying and scoring race points, but especially during tests he showed that he has what it takes to be the ideal test rider in view of 2027.

A hug and goodbye ‘till next year, when you’ll find us more hyped up than ever! With a finale like we had, there can only be an equally fierce start to next season, when a unique “show” will be assured. Heartfelt thanks, therefore, to my splendid Team. The last, biggest and most heartfelt hug is for all our fans, our “tifosi”: as I like to reiterate, they are our true driving force!

Forza Ducati!