Marco Bezzecchi
Massimo Rivola is desperate to get one over Ducati by having four Italian Aprilia riders in 2027, yet Trackhouse are resisting the Noale brand’s leading name for their line-up.
Ducati are due to contest their first-ever season in MotoGP without an Italian in their factory line-up in 2027. Francesco Bagnaia is set to leave Ducati at the end of 2026, as it is an open secret that the Bologna Bullets have already signed Pedro Acosta to partner Marc Marquez.
Reports began to emerge before the 2026 season even started that Ducati have signed KTM ace Acosta for 2027, having lost patience with Bagnaia due to his miserable end to the 2026 campaign. It means Ducati will boast an all-Spanish line-up, while Aprilia’s will be all-Italian.
In the wake of his expected departure from Ducati, it is believed that Bagnaia has agreed to sign a four-year contract with Aprilia to partner his Italian compatriot Marco Bezzecchi. The Noale natives targeted a deal for Bagnaia as Jorge Martin is set to join Yamaha next season.
What are your thoughts on the all-Italian rider line-up at Trackhouse for 2027?
AS are reporting that Luca Marini and Enea Bastianini will join Trackhouse next year
Massimo Rivola wants Trackhouse to sign Aprilia target Luca Marini over Raul Fernandez
Trackhouse are also set to welcome an Italian rider in 2027, as Tech3 star Enea Bastianini is expected to replace the Yamaha-bound Ai Ogura at the American squad. But while reports now claim another Italian in Luca Marini could join Trackhouse, the team have other ideas.
READ MORE: Get to know Luca Marini, from his net worth to half-brother Valentino Rossi
That is according to Motorpasion Moto, which reports that Aprilia would like Trackhouse to sign Marini so that they can enter four Italian riders in 2027. Rivola has ‘suggested’ the idea of having four Italian Aprilia riders to Trackhouse, as he is desperate to ‘take a jab’ at Ducati.
Rivola even ‘considered’ the prospect of signing VR46 Academy product Celestino Vietti for Trackhouse. But Aprilia consider Marini to be the ‘most promising Italian option’, and hope to convince Trackhouse, as it is believed that they prefer re-signing Spaniard Raul Fernandez.
Aprilia only have one more week to force any rider on Trackhouse for 2027, though, as they want their satellite squad to finalise their line-up before the 850cc test at Brno the Monday after the Czech Grand Prix. Currently, only Bezzecchi will be testing Aprilia’s 850cc package.
In a further twist, Fernandez ‘is not even sure’ that he wants to ride for Trackhouse if Aprilia accept the American team’s preference. Despite KTM’s concerns about Fernandez returning to their stable, Guenther Steiner wants him at Tech3 and ‘initial’ talks have turned his head.
It has been said that KTM disagree with Tech3 about signing Fernandez for 2027, due to how the Austrian brand’s relationship with the Spaniard completely deteriorated when he was at Tech3 in 2022. But Steiner is now in charge of Tech3, and he could offer Fernandez a lifeline.
A return to Tech3 under their new ownership could be Fernandez’s lifeline if Trackhouse play ball with Aprilia and Rivola’s plan to have four Italian riders in 2027. It has also been claimed this week that Marini is set to join Trackhouse in 2027 once his contract with Honda expires.
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