Di Giannantonio on the brink: VR46 seeking a 'big name' on the market

Ducati rider Fabio Di Giannantonio has struggled to make the most of the Ducati GP25’s potential. Even next MotoGP season he will have an official Desmosedici at his disposal, but his contract expires at the end of 2026. The coming months will be decisive in determining his future, and there are no signs on the horizon of continuing with the VR46 team.

After a botched 2025 season, Valentino Rossi’s team needs changes. The sting suffered from their “cousins” at Gresini Racing left a bitter taste. A change of course is needed, and Di Giannantonio could pay the price. Granted, the GP25 has proven to be a difficult bike to read at the front. So much so that even Pecco Bagnaia didn’t have it easy and had to settle for 5th in the final standings. Fabio, meanwhile, is 26 points behind, barely keeping pace with teammate Franco Morbidelli (on the GP24).

In addition, rookie Fermin Aldeguer managed to secure a MotoGP victory, finishing eighth in the championship in his debut year. Like the VR46 Roman rider, Aldeguer also has a direct contract with Ducati Corse. The deal provides the Spaniard with a two-year contract with Gresini, receiving the previous year’s bike each season. The third year of the contract is tied to a performance clause. This also means that Fermin Aldeguer could be promoted internally for the 2027 season, thus replacing Di Giannantonio with the current factory equipment.

With almost all rider contracts expiring at the end of 2026, the hierarchy within the Ducati team could change radically. After two years without contract pressure, everything is on the line for Diggia. Despite the new technical regulations, Ducati will remain the most coveted destination for top MotoGP talents like Pedro Acosta or Fabio Quartararo. There were even contacts with the Shark of Mazarrón (confirmed), but the contractual bond with KTM made the move impossible.

This situation isn’t new. In 2023, Diggia seemed practically out of MotoGP. He fought his way back into the spotlight with the Gresini team. At the time, however, he had to make room for the Marc Marquez whirlwind. With a strong end to the season, he carved out a seat at VR46, but repeating that this time won’t be easy.

In the end-of-season test at Valencia, VR46 fielded Celestino Vietti in place of the injured Morbidelli. Vietti is a member of Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Academy, has competed in the World Championship since 2019 and in the Moto2 class since 2021. He has so far taken ten Grand Prix wins and finished the 2025 season in 7th overall. Alongside several big names, he is also on the shortlist to take a Ducati Desmosedici in 2027.