Marco Bezzecchi
The MotoGP grid remains dominated by riders from Spain and Italy, but pundit Marco Melandri sees a ‘generational’ issue on the cusp of derailing the latter’s efforts in the premier class.
Out of the 22 full-time riders on the 2026 grid, 15 of them hail from either country. Spain currently hold the bragging rights, with nine riders representing the Iberian country, and both of the most recent world champions carrying the Spanish flag on their victory laps.
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While Italy remain a huge part of the grid, the number of Italian riders has been steadily dwindling in recent years, with Valentino Rossi’s exit from the grid leaving a void that the sport has found difficulties in trying to fill.
On top of that, Ducati chief Davide Tardozzi recently outlined the ‘problem’ that Italy is still facing following Rossi’s exit from the premier class, highlighting how the popularity of MotoGP in the country is now on a downward trajectory.
MotoGP pundit Marco Melandri is in agreement and has shared his concerns over a possible ‘generational gap’ that is now forming for Italian riders.
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Marco Melandri sees a ‘generational gap’ forming in MotoGP amid Moto2 talent wave
Speaking via the latest episode of the Chiacchiere da Box podcast, Melandri responded to co-host and F1 expert Davide Valsecchi’s qualms with the current state of Italy’s future in the premier class.
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“MotoGP now allows you to push right up to your limit straight away,” he began. “In our day, it was all new, it was still developing, so it was much more complex. But yes, the problem is that even the Italians aren’t exactly spring chickens anymore – Bezzecchi is 27.
“As well as him, Bagnaia and Bastianini are starting to get on a bit. Bulega’s coming through, but he’s no spring chicken either, while we’ve got Moreira, who’s 20 or 21, Acosta, who’s 22, and David Alonso, the Colombian, who’s also absolutely brilliant.
“We don’t have any fresh blood coming through right now. There’s Vietti, who’s showing some promise, but even he isn’t exactly young anymore. Do you see what I mean? Unfortunately, as things stand, I see a generational gap forming.”
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Valentino Rossi’s plan for the next generation of Italian MotoGP riders
Rossi’s VR46 Riders Academy continues to try to further the iconic former rider’s legacy by developing the next crop of talent for Italy, but as Melandri alluded to, Vietti is the only representative of the academy currently on the Grand Prix motorcycle racing circuit.
The seven-time MotoGP world champion does have some consideration for the future, though, with three more youngsters being added to the ranks in recent years.
Matteo Gabarrini, the son of Bagnaia’s crew chief at Ducati, Cristian Gabarrini, joined the academy in 2024, and was later joined by Lorenzo Pritelli and Leonardo Casadei the following year.
All three are eyeing a step up to Moto3 in the coming years, in hopes of proving Melandri wrong regarding his verdict on the future of Italy in the sport.
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