Riding the flamboyant red Desmosedici, Pecco Bagnaia (25) finished 2nd last year behind Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha), with four wins.
2018 world champion in the lower Moto2 category, the Turinese arrived in 2019 in the premier category in the Ducati-Pramac satellite team.
Promoted to the Ducati parent structure in 2021, Bagnaia has established itself as the most serious competitor to the French phenomenon Quartararo (22 years old).
"Pecco" ended the year with a bang, signing its four victories in the last six races.
He took pole position six times and climbed on nine podiums.
But at the end of October, his crash while leading the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix allowed Quartararo to be crowned.
Bagnaia is part of the VR46 Academy, a group of pilots created by the now retired legend Valentino Rossi.
Facing Quartararo, he will still be one of the favorites in 2022, just like the Spaniard Marc Marquez (Honda), if he recovers from his physical problems.
The season starts on March 6 in Qatar.
© 2022 AFP