Marco Bezzecchi
Fermin Aldeguer will join VR46 for 2027 after accepting Ducati’s proposal to move him away from Gresini, which included a pay rise and a bike advantage over his teammate.
Ducati placed Aldeguer at Gresini for his MotoGP debut in 2025, after seeing their preferred path for his promotion from Moto2 collapse when Pramac left their satellite ranks and joined Yamaha’s fold. Pramac’s switch also saw Ducati make VR46 their factory-supported outfit.
With negotiations currently underway over the terms of the next batch of satellite contracts, as the current deals end this year, having factory support at the start of the 2027 regulations will also be a vital aspect. So, Ducati want their rising talent Aldeguer at their B-team, VR46.
It is understood that Ducati upset Gresini owner Nadia Padovani by giving Aldeguer to VR46 for 2027, as the Faenza squad had hoped to retain the Spaniard for a third year. Ducati have taken up their option to extend Aldeguer’s factory contract until 2028 to dictate his future.
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According to Motorsport.com, Ducati’s decision to extend Aldeguer’s contract and place him at VR46 for the 2027 season has also come with many benefits. The 20-year-old had hoped to stay at Gresini, but Ducati offering a pay rise was ‘decisive’ in him agreeing to go to VR46.
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Ducati have also assured Aldeguer that he will receive the same factory-spec bike at VR46 as their two works riders next year, when receiving the latest updates will prove huge. Ducati are expected to sign Marc Marquez to a new contract and welcome Pedro Acosta from KTM.
Each Ducati on the grid at the start of the 2027 MotoGP season will be identical, but the five manufacturers will be in a development race throughout the season. Aldeguer will get to try every update that Ducati design, but whichever rider joins him at VR46 next season will not.
Aldeguer is due to be the only VR46 rider on a factory-spec Ducati throughout 2027, even if the Borgo Panigale crew also give Fabio Di Giannantonio a new works contract and keep him at the team Valentino Rossi founded. Di Giannantonio’s factory Ducati deal expires this year.
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Di Giannantonio is currently in the ‘strongest position’ to complete VR46’s 2027 rider line-up next to Aldeguer. But Motorsport.com adds that VR46 are open to taking Nicolo Bulega next year, which would offer Ducati somewhere to place their World Superbike talent in MotoGP.
It is said that Padovani will not let Ducati impose Bulega on Gresini for the 2027 season after losing Aldeguer to VR46, who are thus Ducati’s last remaining option to move the Italian into MotoGP. So, should Di Giannantonio stay at VR46 for 2027, Bulega may have to leave Ducati.
Bulega is only under contract to Ducati for the 2026 World Superbike Championship, with a deal that also sees him act as a test rider for the Borgo Panigale brand as they develop their 2027 MotoGP bike. It remains to be seen whether Bulega would be happy to stay in WSBK.
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