Di Giannantonio takes Marini’s vacated VR46 Ducati spot for 2024 MotoGP season

Luca Marini, VR46 Racing Team, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Gresini Racing

The Gresini rider had looked unlikely to race in MotoGP next season until a late reshuffle opened up a space at Valentino Rossi’s team.

He lost his seat at Gresini to Marc Marquez, who joins the Ducati satellite team after 11 years with the Honda factory squad.

Though he was briefly linked to the Honda seat left by Marquez, Luca Marini was confirmed as his replacement on Monday morning.

This paved the way for VR46 to confirm Di Giannantonio will ride for them in 2024.

The 25-year-old had a late-season surge in form, taking his maiden win at the penultimate round in Qatar.

After that race, Ducati sporting director Paolo Ciabatti told motogp.com it was “unacceptable” that Di Giannantonio could be left without a ride for next season.

Di Giannantonio also took second place in the season finale in Valencia before he was handed a three-second tyre pressure penalty which demoted him to fourth.

He finishes his second season in the premier class 12th in the standings with 151 points.

Speaking in Sunday’s press conference, Di Giannantonio remained coy about his future but said he would be present at Tuesday’s test.

He told Autosport: “Let’s say that if you find a nice looking guy playing around with a new bike on Tuesday, could be me.”