Marco Bezzecchi
Ducati are close to confirming Marc Marquez’s contract extension, their first step towards assembling their 2027 MotoGP roster. They currently control four different seats.
While VR46 have been linked with Yamaha and Aprilia, they stressed at their 2026 launch last month that they would like to continue their partnership with Ducati. The same can be said for Gresini.
VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio is contracted to the Bologna brand, along with Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer.
Predict the order of the Ducati riders in the 2026 MotoGP standings
Pedro Acosta is expected to sign for the Ducati factory team, replacing Francesco Bagnaia as Marquez’s teammate. But the satellite spots will still be in play.
David Alonso asking Ducati for 10 times more than they’re ready to pay
It’s well-established at this point that Ducati are interested in David Alonso. Moto3 champion in 2024, Alonso is one of the Moto2 favourites this year.
Ducati want Acosta, Aldeguer and Alonso, arguably the three most exciting talents in motorcycle racing, in their roster so they can sustain their dominance for another generation.
But according to MOW, negotiations between Alonso and Ducati aren’t going well. The 19-year-old, aware of his coveted status, is requesting a ‘top rider’s salary’.
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But, as they try to maintain their wage structure, Ducati are only willing to pay him a ‘tenth’ of the requested amount. If Alonso doesn’t significantly lower his demands, it’s ‘easy to imagine’ him joining one of the wealthy Japanese manufacturers instead.
Honda are interested in Alonso, while Yamaha may have vacancies in their programme with the expected departures of Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins at the end of the season.
How much do Ducati pay their satellite riders?
Having almost certainly missed out on Acosta, Valentino Rossi is eyeing Alonso or Aldeguer for 2027.
And as Alex Marquez is heavily linked to KTM, it’s easy to see where Alonso could slot in at either of the existing Ducati satellites.
It’s believed that Aldeguer earned £250k as a rookie, so that may be the kind of salary that Alonso can expect.
Although this would be one of the smallest pay packets on the grid, the youngster would inevitably earn considerable pay rises if he lived up to the hype.
Equally, he’s entitled to shop the market, and it may be that Honda, the biggest and most successful operation on the grid, are the best bet for MotoGP’s new era regardless.
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