Alex Marquez will take over from Fabio Di Giannantonio as rider of the third current-spec MotoGP Ducati in 2026. The Gresini Racing rider will join factory men Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia with this top-tier status.
Next season, the final one under the current technical regulations before MotoGP undergoes major changes in 2027, Ducati will stick with the same approach as this year. Despite speculation that it might run six identical machines, this has once again been ruled out, mainly for production and contractual reasons.
As a result, there will be three full-factory bikes and three from the previous year, just like now. However, Autosport has learned that the third GP26 unit will not go to the VR46 team and Di Giannantonio, as it has this season, but instead will be assigned to Gresini Racing and Alex Marquez.
Ducati’s top management informed all parties of the decision last Sunday at Misano, after Valentino Rossi’s team declined the option of running a latest-spec bike. Ducati then chose to hand it to the rider who, in their eyes, most deserves it this year: the younger Marquez brother, currently sitting second in the championship.
Amid controversy and debate over the potential of the latest Desmosedici version, the GP25, Ducati seriously considered a standard ‘GP26’ prototype for all six riders. This would have to be based on one of the already-homologated machines, as engines are frozen for next season.
But Marc Marquez’s performance and competitiveness on the GP25 erased any doubts, convincing Ducati to stick with the current strategy: three GP25s with the existing engine, and three GP24s, the bike currently raced by Alex Marquez, Franco Morbidelli and Fermin Aldeguer – the latter under contract with the factory until the end of 2027.
Di Giannantonio also holds a factory contract, but next season he will have to step back in machinery, as his team has refused to continue paying double the price for a latest-spec bike they believe offers little difference compared to the GP24.
As for Aldeguer, the Spaniard joined Ducati with the promise of receiving a full-factory bike in his second season, something that ultimately won’t happen. To compensate, Ducati has offered him a series of concessions that could benefit his long-term career. Gigi Dall’Igna, the man behind Aldeguer’s signing, is delighted with the rookie’s performance – he is set to be crowned Rookie of the Year – and has backed him as part of a long-term project.
Ducati and Gresini, who are already contractual partners until the end of 2026, are now negotiating the terms of an agreement that would elevate Nadia Padovani’s squad to the status of Ducati’s second team, ensuring Alex receives due recognition for his outstanding season in 2025.
For his part, Alex Marquez renewed with Gresini last year on a two-year deal through 2026, though it remains unclear whether his current status within Ducati’s MotoGP rider line-up will change heading into next season.
