In lots of two-child households, dad and mom are sometimes required to step in and mediate home disputes pushed by rivalry and ego. Transpose that dynamic to the MotoGP paddock, and Ducati has successfully been enjoying that function for a number of years between its two satellite tv for pc groups, VR46 and Gresini.
Ask round both storage concerning the state of their relationship and the reply is constant: “We don’t get alongside in any respect.”
Ducati insiders go a step additional. “That’s precisely it – it’s like consistently having to mediate between two kids who’re all the time preventing. It’s exhausting,” a senior government from the Borgo Panigale producer advised Motorsport. The Italian model has lengthy needed to steadiness relations between Valentino Rossi’s VR46 construction and the group based by Fausto Gresini, now led by Nadia Padovani following his passing as a consequence of COVID.
Tensions between the 2 outfits escalated additional following the choice to maneuver Fermin Aldeguer to VR46 from 2027. The Spaniard – at the moment partnered with Alex Marquez at Gresini and named Rookie of the Yr in his debut MotoGP season – will change groups beneath Ducati’s impetus, a transfer that has not gone down nicely with Gresini administration.
The response in Faenza was robust sufficient to briefly solid doubt over the renewal of Gresini’s contract with Ducati, which expires on the finish of the season. Aldeguer’s personal needs weren’t sufficient to change the end result: he had persistently said that he would favor to remain put if given the selection.
Fermin Aldeguer, Gresini Racing
Photograph by: Gold and Goose Pictures / LAT Photos / by way of Getty Photos
With Alex Marquez already set to hitch KTM, changing that line-up shall be extraordinarily troublesome. That’s exactly why Gresini had hoped to retain Aldeguer – an goal that in the end proved unattainable for a number of causes, a few of them straight linked to VR46.
A key issue lies in VR46 inheriting the factory-supported standing beforehand held by Pramac, which switched to Yamaha in 2025. The Tavullia-based outfit signed a two-year deal (2025–2026), with an possibility to increase for an extra three seasons (2027–2029) – a clause that has already been activated, albeit not but formally introduced because of the producers’ (MSMA) ongoing negotiations with MotoGP’s business rights holder.
That factory-backed standing grants sure benefits over Ducati’s different buyer groups, though previously two seasons it has not translated into outcomes or visibility.
In 2024, a lot of the highlight fell on Marc Marquez who, alongside his brother, completed forward of each Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli within the standings.
In 2025, Alex Marquez secured the runner-up place in a standout marketing campaign – three wins and 12 podiums – in stark distinction with the extra subdued performances from Di Giannantonio (4 podiums, sixth total) and Morbidelli (two podiums, seventh). Aldeguer completed simply behind the latter, though his victory in Indonesia and three extra podiums made him a frequent headline-maker.
There’s a faculty of thought suggesting that the Desmosedici GP24 ridden by Alex Marquez in 2025 was extra balanced than the GP25 utilized by Di Giannantonio – a declare few would have predicted beforehand.
Understanding Aldeguer’s transfer additionally requires analyzing his contract scenario. The Spaniard is straight tied to Ducati via a deal signed in his last Moto2 season, operating till 2028. Regardless of ambitions of becoming a member of the manufacturing facility group alongside Marc Marquez in 2027, he in the end accepted the pathway outlined in that settlement.
A wage improve additionally performed a decisive function, making him the primary non-Italian rider to hitch VR46 – a group with better monetary sources than Gresini.
Aldeguer is due to this fact set to obtain the most recent equipment specification, matching that of Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta, even when all Ducati bikes are anticipated to converge technically beneath the brand new rules coming into power in 2027. From that time, improvement all through the season is more likely to be the important thing differentiator between factory-supported riders and the remaining.
Motorsport understands Aldeguer’s future team-mate is anticipated to run a typical bundle. Di Giannantonio’s present kind locations him in a robust place to retain his seat, though VR46 can be open to the potential for signing Nicolo Bulega, a former member of the VR46 Academy.
Nicolo Bulega, Ducati Workforce
Foto de: Gold and Goose Pictures / LAT Photos / by way of Getty Photos
Aldeguer’s departure has acted as a set off for Gresini to discover different producers. Nevertheless, the choices are restricted. Relations with Aprilia are strained – if not worse than these with VR46 – following the fallout that ended their partnership in 2021, when Aprilia transitioned to full manufacturing facility standing.
Gresini additionally held discussions with Honda, although it stays unclear whether or not a real alternative existed to rekindle a partnership that when delivered runner-up finishes with Sete Gibernau (2004) and Marco Melandri (2005), or whether or not the talks had been primarily a negotiating tactic to strengthen its place with Ducati.
Both approach, the Honda route didn’t materialise. With Yamaha at the moment missing competitiveness, persevering with with Ducati has emerged as essentially the most viable possibility.
On the rider entrance, Dani Holgado is about to be the primary addition to Gresini’s future line-up. The Spaniard, at the moment third within the Moto2 standings, had been in talks with Yamaha however is known to have knowledgeable the Iwata producer of his choice in latest days.
For the second seat, a number of candidates are into consideration. The main possibility is Enea Bastianini, who’s eager to return to the group the place he secured his first MotoGP victories in 2022. Nevertheless, the Italian stays tied to KTM, which holds an possibility on his contract for a 3rd season – a clause that may should be waived for the transfer to occur.
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