War of words: Davide Tardozzi refuses to buy Francesco Bagnaia’s take on the Le Mans incident
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi has pushed back against Francesco Bagnaia’s claim that brake issues caused his crash in the 2026 French Grand Prix. Bagnaia’s tough run of form continued last Sunday at Le Mans, where he crashed out from P2 in the French GP. The two-time MotoGP champion went down at Turn 3 on Lap 16 of 27 while under pressure from KTM’s Pedro Acosta.
It was already his third retirement this season after just five rounds, and his ninth in the past 12 races. So far this year, Bagnaia’s only finishes are a P9 in Thailand and a P10 in the United States. Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images Davide Tardozzi says there was no brake problem for Francesco Bagnaia during his crash at Le Mans According to Marco Melandri, Bagnaia’s Ducati showed signs that he was about to lose the front end before he crashed during the left-hand section of the Dunlop Chicane.
The incident took away what could have been a podium finish for him. After the French GP, Bagnaia suggested that his crash was caused by the same front brake issue that led to his retirement from the Spanish Grand Prix. But Tardozzi believes it was down to rider error.
Tardozzi told Sky Sports Italy: “I can’t say anything, but there was a problem – it wasn’t a technical issue. All I can say is that it wasn’t a technical issue. “I think something must have thrown him off, which is why he, unfortunately, made a mistake.
But I don’t think we can blame it on a technical issue. ” Francesco Bagnaia’s brake issue claim after the French GP Bagnaia was careful with his words when discussing the brake problem that had affected him at Jerez and again at Le Mans. He felt certain it was a technical issue with the Ducati GP26, not rider error as Tardozzi suggested.