VR46 Rider Fabio Di Giannantonio Extends Contract with Ducati

Fabio Di Giannantonio will continue his racing journey with VR46 for the next two MotoGP seasons (2025 and 2026) after signing a deal with Ducati, according to motorsport.com. This agreement ensures Di Giannantonio will have access to a top-of-the-line Ducati GP25 machine in 2025, a significant upgrade from the year-old bikes he raced on during his first three years in MotoGP.

Previously, Yamaha offered Di Giannantonio a two-year contract to race with their satellite team, Pramac Racing. However, the Italian rider reportedly declined the offer, opting to stay with VR46. This move comes with a crucial change – Di Giannantonio will now be directly contracted with Ducati, similar to past arrangements with Pramac riders.

While VR46 already had the option to extend Di Giannantonio's contract, Ducati has taken the initiative to bring him under their wing. This allows Ducati to retain four factory riders, including Di Giannantonio, Francesco Bagnaia, Marc Marquez, and the upcoming rookie Fermin Aldeguer.

Aldeguer signed a Ducati deal earlier this year, but his team assignment remains undecided. He might race for either VR46 or Gresini in 2025 with a year-old GP24 bike. With Pramac transitioning to a Yamaha satellite team, VR46 is poised to take over their current role as a semi-factory team using Ducati's latest machinery.

Ducati's initial plan was to have only three factory bikes in 2025. They offered the additional bike to Di Giannantonio as an incentive to secure his commitment. Ducati CEO, Claudio Domenicali, expressed their satisfaction with Di Giannantonio's growth and highlighted their desire to retain him.

This turn of events puts Di Giannantonio in a strong position. In just eight months, he transformed from a rider without a confirmed team to one of only three on the grid with access to the latest Ducati bike.

Yamaha Looks to Miguel Oliveira for New Satellite Team

Following Di Giannantonio's decision, Yamaha has set their sights on Miguel Oliveira from Team Trackhouse as their primary rider for the new satellite team. They aim to create a balanced pairing with an experienced rider alongside a rookie. With Jack Miller being the other experienced option, Yamaha might consider rookies like Sergio Garcia, Alonso Lopez, or Toni Arbolino.