Ducati has handed VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio a manufacturing facility MotoGP contract for the 2025 and 2026 MotoGP seasons.
That association consists of formal affirmation that Di Giannantonio will journey Ducati’s third and closing factory-spec bike, which Ducati’s press launch suggests would be the case in each 2025 and 2026.
It additionally follows the announcement final week that the VR46 crew will take over from Pramac as Ducati’s top-level satellite tv for pc crew beginning subsequent season.
Yamaha had proven curiosity in Di Giannantonio for a Pramac crew that can change into its satellite tv for pc outfit in 2025, however by the tip of the German Grand Prix weekend earlier than the summer season break Di Giannantonio dropped a heavy trace that he could be staying put – primarily saying a deal had been agreed however not signed at that time.
Ducati crew supervisor Davide Tardozzi additionally indicated on the British GP final weekend that VR46’s line-up would function Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli.
Di Giannantonio mentioned signing a manufacturing facility contract was a “proud” second.
“This represents a milestone and a big place to begin for my sporting progress,” he mentioned.
“With Ducati’s assist and having an official bike, we are able to proceed to develop and obtain nice issues collectively. I wish to thank Ducati for its belief.”
Ducati basic supervisor Luigi Dall’Igna mentioned Di Giannantonio had “all the time proven nice confidence in our venture, and his dedication and expertise have led him to develop steadily in MotoGP”.
“We’re assured that along with the VR46 Racing Group and having an official Desmosedici GP, he can have much more alternatives to carry out his full potential.”
Although he’s one among solely two Ducati riders but to complete on the rostrum this season, Di Giannantonio has largely adopted up on the promise of his late-2023 breakthrough with Gresini final 12 months, establishing himself as on common the second-fastest Ducati Desmosedici GP23 rider this season behind Marc Marquez.
And with Ducati’s rider ranks more and more depleted by exits for the likes of Jorge Martin, Enea Bastianini and Marco Bezzecchi, it needed to transfer to make sure Di Giannantonio was not additionally lured away.
VR46 claimed throughout the German GP weekend it had a team-side possibility on the 25-year-old anyway, however merely activating that possibility with out an improve in standing would’ve been a recipe for having an unsettled rider.
However now Di Giannantonio will obtain a coveted Ducati GP25 subsequent 12 months, the one rider outdoors of the manufacturing facility crew to obtain one as Ducati eyes an excellent cut up between GP25s and GP24s.
Ducati state of play
Di Giannantonio’s renewal means Ducati’s rider roster for 2025 appears to have taken concrete form now.
He might be one among 4 riders beneath Ducati manufacturing facility contract, alongside the works line-up of Pecco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez and rookie Fermin Aldeguer.
Alex Marquez, in the meantime, has prolonged his Gresini keep for the following two years, whereas Morbidelli – although not but formally confirmed – is broadly anticipated to maneuver over to his mentor Valentino Rossi’s VR46 crew as Di Giannantonio’s team-mate – as following his present crew Pramac into the Yamaha secure is a non-starter.
Morbidelli is on a GP24 this season and is ready to proceed on one subsequent season – which is able to would successfully imply a downgrade in standing.
The youthful Marquez can also be set for a GP24 at Gresini, and it’s troublesome to see how both him or Morbidelli might discover themselves on a works-spec machine within the close to future.
That is additionally as a result of Aldeguer is reported to be on the identical sort of deal Bagnaia had graduated to MotoGP with 5 years in the past, with flexibility over bike spec for 12 months one in 2025 – which implies Aldeguer is ready to study the ropes within the premier class on a GP24 – however a works-spec improve the next 12 months.
Have been that to be the case, and assuming Di Giannantonio can have a manufacturing facility bike for each years of his new deal, there ought to once more be 4 works-spec Ducatis in 2026.
