Marco Bezzecchi
Ducati’s plans for their 2027 MotoGP roster aren’t healthy for the sport, one paddock insider has told Liberty Media.
It’s an open secret that Pedro Acosta will replace Francesco Bagnaia as Marc Marquez’s teammate in Ducati’s factory line-up next year.
Meanwhile, satellite team Gresini are expected to sign Daniel Holgado from Moto2, and it emerged during the Catalan GP weekend that Joan Mir would fill the second seat.
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VR46 are the only Ducati-linked team yet to finalise their line-up, though Fermin Aldeguer is known to be moving across from Gresini and Fabio Di Giannantonio is heading to KTM. Valentino Rossi wants an Italian rider and is picking from a four-man shortlist: half-brother Luca Marini, the incumbent Franco Morbidelli, Superbike title favourite Nicolo Bulega and academy talent Celestino Vietti.
‘Five of the six Ducati riders next year are Spanish’
Whoever Rossi chooses, there will be only two nationalities represented in Ducati’s ranks – Spain and Italy. The two countries already dominate the grid, accounting for 14 out of 22 riders.
Carmelo Ezpeleta is keen to diversify the MotoGP grid to improve the sport’s reach, but another figure in the sport wants newcomers Liberty to support his efforts.
In Formula 1, Liberty’s other major motorsport product, 15 different nationalities are represented among the 22 drivers on the grid.
Are there too many Spanish riders on the MotoGP grid?
“I’m surprised that more isn’t being done behind the scenes,” the unnamed insider told Speedweek. “I would have expected that, given Liberty Media’s interests, they would prioritise placing riders who don’t have a Spanish or Italian passport.
“But five of the six Ducati riders next year are Spanish, and the grid remains dominated by Spaniards and Italians. Everywhere you read that having a Spanish or Italian passport is a disadvantage; but those passports are still worth more than the others.”
The report adds that Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez is at risk of losing his seat over his lack of ‘media appeal’. Australian Moto2 high-flyer Senna Agius may be more commercially valuable, particularly with the impending arrival of the Adelaide GP, and has already been linked with the team.
Italy and Spain are the heartlands of the sport, but Ducati boss Davide Tardozzi says MotoGP has lost popularity in his homeland since the retirement of Valentino Rossi.
Based on the exodus at the Spanish GP when Marquez crashed out, there’s a chance of a repeat when he leaves the sport for good. This demonstrates the problem with relying on two markets.
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