Ducati have now backed out of ‘commitment’ to give ‘incredible’ rider a factory bike for the 2026 season

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Ducati have reportedly backed out of an agreement to give one MotoGP rider a factory bike next season in favour of Alex Marquez after his impressive season atop the older-spec GP24 this season.

Given Marc Marquez’s total dominance atop the factory GP25 in the current MotoGP campaign, it’s no surprise that every rider within the Ducati stable wants a stab at the Italian constructor’s primary bike in 2026.

Franco Morbidelli expressed his interest in receiving a factory Ducati during negotiations with VR46 over his future at the team within MotoGP.

His teammate, Fabio Di Giannantonio, currently receives full factory support from the Borgo Panigale-based team, but that looks like it is coming to an end following a report from Motorsport.com.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Ducati from the MotoGP team’s riders to hierarchy

Ducati have opted to give Alex Marquez the factory bike next season over Fermin Aldeguer

Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi recently stated that Alex Marquez will be rewarded by the team for his efforts in the current MotoGP season, which has seen him become the closest challenger to Marc’s dominance of the category.

The younger Marquez brother currently sits second in the riders’ standings atop the GP24 and is the only reason why Marc hasn’t been crowned as the 2025 champion yet.

The decision to reward the 29-year-old for his efforts is commendable, but the report states that it goes against Ducati’s deal with Fermin Aldeguer, who arrived at the stable with the ‘commitment’ of having a ‘fully factory-equipped bike’ during his second season in the premier class.

Supplying Gresini with two factory bikes is something that ‘won’t be possible’ for Ducati to do, and they instead offered the 20-year-old rookie a ‘series of compensations’ that will reportedly benefit him in ‘the long run’.

Dorna welcomed the idea of giving Aldeguer a factory bike in 2026, and the news will no doubt disappoint the young Spaniard, who has been mightily impressive in his maiden premier class campaign.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Fermin Aldeguer with his rise to MotoGP and height

Fermin Aldeguer has been tipped to be the ‘future of Ducati’ by Luigi Dall’Igna

The biggest highlight of the season so far for Aldeguer came at the Austrian GP in August, where he finished just over a second behind the championship leader.

Aldeguer was hailed as ‘incredible’ and the ‘future of Ducati’ by team boss Luigi Dall’Igna after seeing the Gresini rider atop the podium for the second time in his rookie season. The same sentiment has been echoed by the factory rider, Marquez.

Casey Stoner believes Aldeguer’s ride in Austria was the best all season, even better than every single one of Marquez’s 25 victories on his way to securing a match point for the 2025 title at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix.

Amid his struggles in 2025, Francesco Bagnaia has been tipped to make way for Aldeguer in the future.

The Italian rider’s contract with the team is up at the end of 2026, and he will need a severe uptick in results if he wants to cement his place in the currently best team on the grid.