Marco Bezzecchi
Ducati would turn to Fermin Aldeguer or Fabio Di Giannantonio to partner with Pedro Acosta in the 2027 season if Marc Marquez now elects to retire from MotoGP in 2026.
The Borgo Panigale natives are already set to refresh their rider line-up next season with the arrival of Acosta from KTM to replace Francesco Bagnaia. Yet while Marquez was believed to be near to agreeing a new contract with Ducati earlier in 2026, he is still yet to sign the deal.
Marquez is due to be out of contract with the Bologna Bullets at the end of the 2026 season after he joined Ducati in 2025 on a two-year deal. It was thought that Marquez would agree a new two-year contract with Ducati through 2028, but he then asked the team to hold fire.
Ducati accepted Marquez’s request to wait, as the Spaniard does not feel sure about signing up for another two years while he is still recovering from the shoulder injury he suffered last October. The 33-year-old’s early struggles so far in 2026 have also not changed his mind.
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Ducati would promote Fermin Aldeguer or Fabio Di Giannantonio if Marc Marquez retires
It is said that Marquez finds the idea of being under contract through 2028 but struggling in 2027 unbearable, having not been able to completely gel with the Ducati GP26 owing to the ongoing effects of his shoulder injury. There is even a school of thought that he might retire.
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And Motorpasion Moto reports that with the MotoGP rider market already rather advanced for 2027, Ducati would have limited options to replace Marquez if he were to retire. So, they would opt to promote one of their factory-contracted riders in Aldeguer or Di Giannantonio.
Marquez retiring from MotoGP at the end of 2026 is not considered likely at this stage, as he is expected to spend at least one more year at Ducati to test out the 2027 regulations. But if the Cervera native does retire, Ducati know what Aldeguer and Di Giannantonio could offer.
Promoting Di Giannantonio from VR46 to partner Acosta in the works Ducati squad next year would currently be the Bologna Bullets’ easiest option to replace Marquez. The 27-year-old’s factory Ducati contract is set to expire in 2026, but he is expected to stay with VR46 in 2027.
Di Giannantonio held advanced talks with Yamaha about a move for 2027, but his form this year is thought to have tempted Ducati to keep the Italian at VR46. The Roman is the leading Ducati star in the 2026 riders’ standings after three rounds, ahead of Marquez by five points.
As for Aldeguer, Ducati could face needing to reach a settlement with VR46 if they wanted to promote the Spaniard to replace Marquez, as they have already offered the Gresini talent to Valentino Rossi’s team. It is widely believed that Ducati will place Aldeguer at VR46 for 2027.
Ducati put Aldeguer at Gresini for his MotoGP debut in 2025 on an initial two-year deal. But the Bologna Bullets included an option to extend his deal through 2028, which they are said to have used and plan to use to move him to VR46 as they are their factory-supported team.
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