The 2026 MotoGP season is fast approaching, and a handful of teams have already unveiled their latest machines ahead of the first round at Buriram in Thailand. Aprilia returns with an all-black-everything look, while the Prima Pramac Yamaha team will don a predominantly purple aesthetic for 2026.
But instead of doing something outside of the proverbial box, Ducati leaned into its 100-year history for the livery of the Desmosedici GP26, opting for a dark red colorway, what they’re calling “Rosso Centenario,” inspired by the red of the Ducati 60, the first complete motorcycle to mark Ducati’s entry into the motorcycle manufacturing world.
Last year, Ducati Lenovo took home the prestigious triple crown for the third time in the team's history. They collected 13 overall wins - bringing the tally to 99 MotoGP victories - along with an all-time record for points scored by a single rider in a season (Marc Márquez with 545), as well as their sixth consecutive constructors' title.
Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia will pilot the Desmosedici GP26s during the much-anticipated 2026 season, with Bagnaia seeking redemption after a tough go of things in 2025. Nine MotoGP titles have been amassed by the two riders, with seven for Marquez and two for Bagnaia. Marquez, who collected his seventh Premiere Class title in 2025 following what some might call the greatest comeback of all time, is looking to take his Rosso Centenario ride to an eighth championship, putting him ahead of former rival Valentino Rossi (who collected seven of his own), along with 106 Grand Prix wins across different classes.
During an interview at the Ducati Lenovo Team introduction in Madonna di Campiglio, a small village nestled in the foothills of the Dolomites, Marquez said,
“2025 was a key moment in my life and career - a challenge against all odds, to prove to myself first that I could win again. I don't pay much attention to numbers and records, but 2026 represents an additional challenge. Reaffirming my position will be even more difficult, but we have the ability to make the most of the Desmosedici GP package, which is the most competitive and reliable.”
Francesco Bagnaia, a rider that had a frustrating season in 2025, is seeking redemption aboard the Desmosedici GP26, saying that he was “leaving behind a challenging year, but one that has taught me so much and has further strengthened my desire to return to the track.” Bagnaia finished 5th overall in the standings and struggled to find consistency, with only two Grand Prix wins and several DNFs towards the end of the season.
Will the Italian feel more comfortable on the latest MotoGP monster from Bologna, or will his struggles to find speed and consistency continue in 2026? About that, Pecco seems confident that the new year and a new machine will change his fortunes, saying that this is “a new opportunity to demonstrate our full potential in the year of Ducati's centenary celebrations and with a truly impressive livery. I count the hours until the first test.”
Ducati didn’t provide any technical details about the new Desmosedici GP26 - aside from highlighting the fresh Rosso Centenario livery - so we’ll have to wait until February 3rd when Marquez and Pecco head to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia for Ducati Lenovo’s first official test session of 2026.
