Keeping Fabio di Giannantonio at VR46 'Plan A', admits Uccio Salucci

Retaining Fabio di Giannantonio to partner new recruit Fermin Aldeguer at VR46 next season is Plan A for the satellite Ducati squad, says team director Alessio 'Uccio' Salucci. 

While Aldeguer's signing for 2027 is an open secret and remains only to be officially confirmed, di Giannantonio has admitted there is plenty of interest in his services following a strong start to the current season. 

"We are doing a really good job on track and it reflects for the future for sure, with a lot of teams that want me on their side, let's say," he remarked after his third-place finish at the Spanish Grand Prix. "This is amazing, you know, as a human before a rider... it means that you are doing a good job. We still have everything open, honestly... I'm pleased about the interest around."

Speaking exclusively to Motorsport.com two days earlier, his current boss was clear that VR46 wanted to win any fight for di Giannantonio's services.

“First of all, [the interest in di Giannantonio] makes me very happy," said Salucci. "I remember two years ago when we signed him - there wasn’t much interest in him. We believed in him, and now he’s a hot property, which is great.

"On the other hand, it makes things more complicated. He’s our priority, and we’re trying to build an offer that matches the di Giannantonio of today - both technically and financially. We hope to succeed and that he chooses to stay with us for the coming years.”

Salucci was happy to elaborate on the alternatives should di Giannantonio not stick around to partner the incoming Aldeguer. These also included retaining the struggling Franco Morbidelli, claimed the Italian.

"Everything is possible," he said. "We have a Plan B, C, and D. As I said, 'Diggia' is our priority and I’d be disappointed to move to Plan B, but in this sport you always need alternatives.

"There’s Luca Marini – we don’t know if he’ll stay at Honda. You never know with Morbidelli either – we’re working a lot with him. I like [Moto2 rider] Celestino Vietti, he’s close to my heart. And why not [World Superbike Championship leader and Ducati MotoGP test rider] Nicolo Bulega as well? There are many situations we’re keeping open.

"It’s an exciting but delicate moment – we’re working hard because the decisions we make now will influence the coming years. We hope to make the right choice, but of course we hope Diggia stays with us.”

It sounds a little like Bulega might be 'Plan D', but he's on the VR46 radar all the same

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

While stopping just short of officially confirming Aldeguer's signature on a VR46 contract, Salucci made no secret of his admiration for the young Spaniard currently racing with Gresini Ducati.

"For me, he’s a top rider," he said. "He’s already won [a grand prix], he’s young and he has many qualities. He’s not with us yet, but I hope we can finalise the deal in the next couple of weeks.

"We really want him. We tried before, but he was with a Moto2 team and we didn’t want to create issues. So we waited, hoping to sign him later – and hopefully that’s what will happen."

Salucci also revealed a regret from recent rider negotiations: failing to land the services of Pedro Acosta for 2027. Team owner Valentino Rossi was pushing for Acosta earlier this year, but the prospect of the two Murcian neighbours sharing the same box evaporated when Acosta signed to join the factory Ducati squad for next season. 

"I do regret it. [Acosta] and Fermin are among the most talented young riders – the future of MotoGP. We would have loved to have Pedro with us, but there were contracts and a complicated situation around him. It just didn’t work out."

Additional reporting by Giacomo Rauli