Francesco Bagnaia ended a 15-year wait for Ducati when he won the world title at the Valencia finale earlier in November, the Italian overturning a 91-point deficit at the halfway point of the season to beat 2021 champion Fabio Quartararo by 17.
In the latter part of the campaign, Ducati did issue instructions to its seven other riders that they had to be mindful when racing Bagnaia and don't do anything risky for podiums and wins.
