Marc Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia unveil retro-inspired…

Ducati showcased its 2026 MotoGP bike for the first time on Monday as it looks to extend its winning run in the final year of the current regulation cycle.

Factory riders Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia took the covers off the latest version of the Desmosedici GP at the Italian ski resort Madonna di Campiglio, which has hosted all of Ducati’s season launches in recent years.

To celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary, the Borgo Panigale marque unveiled a retro-inspired livery featuring white stripes, a design cue that has appeared on several of its road-going models over the decades.

Ducati also previously used white as a base colour in MotoGP before switching to an all-red design from the 2019 season.

The Italian manufacturer is expected to remain the benchmark in MotoGP this year after a dominant 2025 campaign in which it won 17 grands prix and 19 sprints across 22 race weekends.

With an engine freeze in place and the scale of the 2027 regulation overhaul, manufacturers are likely to scale back development of their 2026 bikes early in the season.

Marquez and Bagnaia will once again form an all-star line-up at the official Ducati squad, having won a combined 12 world titles between them, including nine in MotoGP.

Reigning champion Marquez returns to action after missing the final four rounds of 2024 due to the shoulder injury he sustained in Indonesia, just a week after wrapping up his seventh premier class title.

The Spaniard underwent surgery on his battered right arm in October and spent the winter break focusing on his recovery.

Bagnaia, meanwhile, will be aiming to start the 2026 season on a steadier foot after a bruising end to his 2025 campaign in which he failed to score points in six of the last seven grands prix.

The Italian’s inconsistent results, which included several Q1 exits in qualifying, led to some friction with the Ducati management, although both parties maintained that their relationship remained strong.

While Marquez is expected to sign a new contract in the coming months, question marks remain over who will win the race for the second factory seat at Ducati.