Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia’s future at Ducati is clearly under threat. The reigning champions are committed to finding a solution to Bagnaia’s 2025 crisis, but they’ll struggle to accept another year of these performances.
TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson says there’s a ‘90% chance’ Bagnaia leaves Ducati next year rather than re-signing. He thinks he may benefit from relaunching his career with another factory.
Internal and external candidates are already emerging. Ducati could battle Honda for Fabio Quartararo after the 2021 world champion threatened to leave Yamaha.
KTM superstar Pedro Acosta is bound to be in their thoughts, while Alex Marquez is reportedly pushing for a factory ride as he closes in on a career-best second-place finish. Gresini teammate Fermin Aldeguer is already on a Ducati contract.
Fermin Aldeguer addresses potential move from Gresini to Ducati factory team
Aldeguer is currently the lowest-ranking Ducati in the standings in ninth, but that’s perhaps to be expected in his rookie year. His bosses are more interested in highs than his lows at the moment.
And Casey Stoner says Aldeguer delivered the best ride of the season at the Austrian GP, where he finished second. That’s one of four podiums, including Sprints.
But since then, he’s finished 16th and 15th, showing the inconsistency typical of a debutant. If he wants a promotion, he’ll need to cut out these weekends next year.
According to Luigi Dall’Igna, it’s ‘safe to say’ Aldeguer will race for Ducati ‘sooner or later’.
Asked by Mundo Deportivo when he sees himself wearing red, he replied: “I hope as soon as possible, but when I am ready.
And when pressed on whether that would be in 2027, he said: “Hopefully.”
What feedback has Fermin Aldeguer received from Luigi Dall’Igna?
Dall’Igna is closely monitoring Aldeguer and visits Gresini after every practice session to gauge his feedback. The Spaniard tends to leave the conversations pertaining to his future to his manager.
Both camps are conscious of giving Aldeguer ‘peace of mind’. Still only 20, he’s the youngest rider on the MotoGP grid.
“We have a very good relationship, but in the end, he comes after every practice session, we share our feelings with him,” Aldeguer said of Dall’Igna. “The truth is that my manager is more the one who goes further in the meetings they have with Ducati, but for my part, he doesn’t want to get too involved at the moment.
“He wants to give me peace of mind so I can work with the team, follow our own path, and when I need to rely on them, they’ll really be there.”
Marc Marquez believes Aldeguer is the ‘future’ of MotoGP, along with Acosta and Jorge Martin. Those statements can create pressure, but it’s also a significant endorsement for Ducati.
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