Ducati has decided to move Fermin Aldeguer, a Gresini MotoGP rider, to VR46 for 2027, a transfer that prompted strong objections from Gresini management and briefly put Gresini’s Ducati contract renewal in doubt.
Fermin Aldeguer, who partnered Alex Marquez, a MotoGP rider, at Gresini and was named MotoGP Rookie of the Year, had said he would prefer to remain but the move proceeded under Ducati’s impetus. With Alex Marquez set to join KTM, replacing that line-up will be extremely difficult for Gresini.
VR46 inherited factory-supported status previously held by Pramac and signed a 2025–2026 deal with an option for 2027–2029 that has already been activated but not officially announced because of MSMA negotiations. A senior Ducati executive told Motorsport the manufacturer has often had to mediate tensions between VR46 and Gresini.
On track, Alex Marquez finished 2025 as runner-up while Fermin Aldeguer recorded a victory in Indonesia and multiple podiums, illustrating the competitive backdrop to Ducati’s move.
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