Ducati’s 2026 roster set to be decided as 103-start MotoGP rider is ‘likely’ to have a factory bike

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Ducati look to have their riders secured for the 2026 MotoGP season. However, their roster could be set for a reshuffle.

The Borgo Panigale have remained the dominant force in the premier class in 2025, winning all but two races thus far. Marc Marquez has won 10 of the 14 Grands Prix this season, as well as 13 Sprints, as he looks set to win his seventh MotoGP title.

The 32-year-old has a contract with the factory Ducati outfit until 2026 alongside teammate Francesco Bagnaia. The Italian has been desperately struggling on the GP25 this year, with his worrying performances even sparking speculation that he could go to Yamaha.

Bagnaia has played down rumours of a Ducati exit as he hopes to stay with the Borgo Panigale outfit for the rest of his career. As well as the factory outfit, Gresini will not see any changes in 2026, with Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer tied down for next season.

Valentino Rossi has also not made any changes to his line-up at VR46, with Franco Morbidelli set to sign a new contract for 2026 alongside Fabio Di Giannantonio, who has a deal for next season. But there is still the question of who will ride factory bikes at Ducati.

Alex Marquez is ‘likely’ to have a ‘full factory’ Ducati bike in 2026

It was reported that Ducati were ‘considering changing’ their roster for 2026, which would see their factory bike slots shift to other riders. The GP25 has proved to be a backwards step from the GP24, with Bagnaia and Di Giannantonio struggling with the new Desmosedici.

The latter is behind teammate Morbidelli in the standings, who is riding the year-old GP24 in 2025, while the former is a staggering 227 points behind Marc Marquez. Ricard Jove has suggested that Ducati could swap Bagnaia with Aldeguer and give the rookie a factory bike for 2026.

Luigi Dall’Igna views Aldeguer as the future of Ducati, with the Gresini rider having a factory contract with the Borgo Panigale outfit. However, according to Sky Sport Italia, his teammate Alex Marquez is ‘likely’ to ride a factory bike in 2026.

The Spaniard, who has made 103 race starts in MotoGP, has been displaying strong results in 2025 as he sits second in the standings. With one win and 16 second-place finishes thus far, he is enjoying his best season in the premier class to date.

His performances in 2025 look set to be rewarded by Ducati as, according to the report, he is due to lead Gresini for at least another season next year with the factory spec bike.

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What does Alex Marquez’s promotion to factory machinery mean for the other Ducati riders?

With Alex Marquez’s promotion to what will be the GP26 in 2026, it would take Ducati to four factory bikes for next season. Sky Sport Italia reports that Di Giannantonio will continue to have a factory Desmosedici for VR46.

That leaves Aldeguer and Morbidelli riding the GP25 after Marquez makes the step up. Ducati had four factory bikes on the grid in 2024, with Pramac having two alongside the main team until they left for Yamaha in 2025.

With one less team and two fewer bikes, Ducati halved their factory slots to three this season, handing it to Diggia alongside Marc Marquez and Bagnaia. It is currently unclear whether the Borgo Panigale outfit will have a 4-2 split for the GP26 instead of an even 3-3.

Bagnaia could go back to the GP24 as it has been homologated under the regulations. This would allow Alex Marquez to take his factory bike in 2026 and reap the benefits of his strong performances this season.