Fabio Di Giannantonio prepares to leave VR46 for KTM in 2027, reuniting with former Gresini teammate Alex Marquez. This departure creates a vacancy next to Fermin Aldeguer, prompting Valentino Rossi to prioritize Italian riders for the open seat.
Challenges in Finding the Right Fit
Selecting solely from Italian talent proves difficult amid the current MotoGP landscape. VR46 may explore options from lower categories or external series to secure a strong partner for Aldeguer. Discussions within the team highlight promising candidates, including a possible return for a rider with deep ties to Rossi.
Leading Italian Candidates Emerge
Luca Marini and Celestino Vietti stand out as primary options to replace Di Giannantonio. Marini, Valentino Rossi’s brother and a former VR46 rider, recently lost his Honda seat after an earlier Yamaha offer fell through. Vietti impresses in Moto2 with Speed Up Racing, positioning him as a promotion candidate.
MotoGP journalist Mela Chercoles shared insights with Nico Abad, stating, “We already know that Di Giannantonio has said yes to KTM… They (Ducati and VR46) want it to be an Italian rider. The fight, theoretically, was between Di Giannantonio and Morbidelli.”
Franco Morbidelli faces exclusion due to inconsistent results. Chercoles added, “Morbidelli was no match for Di Giannantonio, just wasn’t producing results that justify it. Another option is to move Vietti up from Moto2, which they like. Let’s see what happens with Luca Marini, who has been left without a place at Honda. He had an offer from Yamaha at one point, and now he has been left without a place. He is Valentino Rossi’s brother and is a good rider…”
Bulega Enters the Conversation
Nicolo Bulega, previously linked to VR46, draws attention elsewhere. His manager met with Aprilia representatives during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend in Jerez. While Bulega connected to VR46 before Di Giannantonio’s announcement, a Marini return could delay his MotoGP debut.
Ducati holds an existing agreement with Bulega and may accelerate his promotion. Rossi maintains flexibility in timing the decision but must align with Ducati’s priorities for Aldeguer’s teammate.
