Valentino Rossi Faces Major VR46 Decision After Fabio Di Giannantonio Exit
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| Valentino Rossi |
VR46 is searching for Fabio Di Giannantonio’s replacement as Valentino Rossi considers Luca Marini, Nicolo Bulega, and Celestino Vietti for the 2027 MotoGP season
MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi is facing a crucial decision regarding the VR46 team’s rider line-up for the 2027 MotoGP season. The situation comes after Fabio Di Giannantonio confirmed that he will leave VR46 at the end of the season to join the factory KTM team.
VR46 has already secured the signing of Fermin Aldeguer, who will move from Gresini Racing. The young Spanish rider remains under a Ducati contract, with his salary fully covered by the Italian manufacturer. Aldeguer’s arrival will also mark a historic moment, as it will be the first time VR46 fields a non-Italian rider since entering the MotoGP premier class in 2022.
Di Giannantonio’s departure is considered a major loss for Rossi’s team. The rider, widely known as “Diggia,” recently claimed his first victory with VR46 at the 2026 Barcelona MotoGP. The win also ended the team’s victory drought since Marco Bezzecchi triumphed at the 2023 Indian Grand Prix.
Rossi admitted he has been extremely satisfied with Di Giannantonio’s progress during his time at VR46. According to the nine-time world champion, their partnership improved steadily each season, allowing the rider to become one of the strongest competitors in MotoGP. At the moment, Di Giannantonio is Ducati’s highest-ranked rider in the championship standings behind the Aprilia duo.
Despite that success, Rossi must now identify the right replacement. The Italian icon emphasized that VR46 wants to maintain at least one Italian rider in its line-up next season in order to preserve the team’s identity and tradition.
Several names have already emerged as potential candidates. Luca Marini is considered one of the strongest options after reports suggested his future with Honda may be uncertain for 2027. In addition, World Superbike championship leader Nicolo Bulega has also entered VR46’s shortlist following his dominant performances with Ducati this season. Meanwhile, Moto2 rider Celestino Vietti is also being evaluated after impressing in Barcelona.
Rossi stated that performances in the upcoming races will play a major role in deciding who deserves the available seat at VR46. He added that the situation remains completely open, with no final decision made by the team so far.
On the other hand, Bulega continues to strengthen his chances of earning a MotoGP promotion after dominating the World Superbike championship. The Ducati rider swept every race in Most and extended his winning streak, further boosting his prospects of reaching the premier class. Bulega also revealed that his management is currently in discussions with Ducati to find the best path toward securing a full-time MotoGP seat.
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