Ducati are now in line to receive its first-ever MotoGP concessions, with a decision expected at the halfway point of the 2026 season.
The system was brought back for the 2024 campaign as a way to give struggling teams more test days and upgrade opportunities while also trying to reduce Ducati’s dominance.
In 2025, Ducati remained firmly in control, sweeping all three championships and staying in Rank A, the top tier of the concession system. Honda was promoted to Rank C before the start of last season, which was the only change in status going into 2026.
Midway through this season, MotoGP will once again review the concessions system, factoring in results from late 2025 through to early this year before making any changes. Ducati have never dropped below Rank A since concessions were overhauled two years ago, but that looks set to change soon.
According to a report from Motopassion Moto, Ducati are at serious risk of being granted concessions, something that hasn’t happened since the system was brought back into use.
Currently sitting in Rank A, Ducati have the fewest test tyres available, no wildcard entries, a frozen engine development window and isn’t allowed to use their regular riders for private testing. That could change by mid-2026 if they fall to Rank B.
To stay in Rank A, a team needs to hit 85% of possible points since last year’s Austrian Grand Prix – that’s 660.45 out of 777. Ducati currently sit at 407 points.
To avoid dropping down, they’ll need another 253 points over the next eight races – that’s an average of about 31.6 per race. Right now, after a slow start to the season, they’re only averaging 23 points per event.
The Desmosedici GP26 has fallen behind the pace set by Aprilia’s RS-GP this year, with Marco Bezzecchi taking all three wins so far. Francesco Bagnaia admitted early on that Ducati was no longer the fastest on the grid, and there have already been two races without a single rider finishing on the podium.
Marc Marquez described Bezzecchi as “unstoppable” before the break in April, highlighting just how much work Ducati has ahead if they want to close the gap. Dropping into Rank B would give them some extra resources, including three wildcards and an additional 20 test tyres for the second half of next year.
Ducati’s grip on the sport appears to be slipping, and so far, they haven’t found a response to Aprilia’s rise.
Luigi Dall’Igna says concessions aren’t to blame for their recent slide. With MotoGP heading to Europe and the Spanish Grand Prix up next, they’ll be aiming to turn things around.
If Aprilia stay ahead and Ducati continue to fall short, concessions could soon come into play. With Rank B allowing three wildcard entries, the team plans to use Nicolo Bulega for early testing of their 2027 850cc bike.
Bulega has been linked with a move to Trackhouse next season. If he does leave Ducati for another manufacturer in 2027, he won’t be available as a test rider under the current rules.
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