Ducati have just announced that they?ve extended their contract with Pecco Bagnaia for another two years.

If you were to ask 100 MotoGP fans who they?d put their money on for the 2022 MotoGP season, plenty (if not the majority) would probably say Pecco Bagnaia. I know I would. After nine podiums, four victories, six pole positions and an absolutely stonking end to the ?21 season, it?s almost impossible to look past him.

It would seem Ducati have got plenty of faith in the Italian too, and not just for this year. They?ve just announced that they?re keeping hold of the Turin-born 25-year-old at the end of 2022, for a further two seasons.

With one of the hottest young riders on one of the fastest (if not the fastest) bikes on the grid, the rest of the field are really going to have to pull their socks up.
In fact, if Ducati keep improving their bike the way they have been, and Pecco keeps honing his skills as a MotoGP rider, I wouldn?t be surprised if we saw him dominate like Rossi circa 2001, Stoner circa 2011 or Marc Marquez circa 2009.

That said, there are a lot of top, top riders all on Ducati machinery. And besides that, there are still circuits that suit the other bikes. So whist Pecco?s in a strong position for this season, he?s not going to have it all his own way.

Speaking of his new, extended contract, he said this

Pecco Bagnaia

“Being a Ducati rider in MotoGP has always been my dream, and knowing that I can continue with the Ducat...