While Ducati is abandoning Italian riders in MotoGP to focus on other opportunities offered by the transfer market, Valentino Rossi continues to train young Italian talent.
Next year, five of Ducati's six riders will likely be Spanish. Marc Márquez and Pedro Acosta will be in the factory team, Joan Mir and Daniel Holgado in Gresini, while Fermín Aldeguer and Nicolo Bulega – the only Italian rider – are expected to join VR46. This has raised some questions, even some criticism, regarding the Italian brand's DNA, while Gigi Dall'Igna has defended the brand's strategy: Ducati continues to invest in young talent, but also refuses to pass up the best opportunities on the market when they arise.
When questioned by MotoSprint about this change in distribution between the Italian talent pool and stars of other nationalities, the head of Ducati Corse left no room for doubt: "I think that's just nonsense," he confided to MotoSprint during World Ducati Week. We are still investing in young pilots. We made the right decision to sign Marc, we made the right decision to sign Pedro, because I think he's one of the most important figures in MotoGP for the coming years.
And to continue: “What I like to point out is that Ducati, more than any other manufacturer, has hired a huge number of Italian riders over the years. I would say without hesitation that there have been more than ten in the last ten years. I believe that no other manufacturer or team can tell this story, and we do so with pride. Our philosophy remains to recruit young talent.”
If Ducati will have fewer Italian riders in the future, it will be for another reason: "Unfortunately, we don't see as many young Italian talents as before, and this affects the Italian character of the system. Ducati is also an international manufacturer, which must also welcome riders from elsewhere."
Rossi, the Italian school
The question of who will represent the next generation of Italian riders is therefore legitimate, and in this regard, there is one man who continues to discover and nurture his young compatriots. Valentino Rossi continues to build the future of Italian MotoGP with the VR46 Riders Academy. With this structure, the multiple world champion has built a true training center, designed to develop Italian riders capable of reaching the top.
The story began long before the official structure. It dates back to a meeting with Marco Simoncelli, then took shape around Franco Morbidelli before evolving into a comprehensive project. The principle is simple: to support young riders from their very beginnings, passing on a methodology, a work ethic, and a structured daily routine. The academy has since produced an impressive record: 4 world champions, 86 victories, and 215 podium finishes in the MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3 categories. Above all, it has produced a generation that is making its mark on MotoGP today: Pecco Bagnaia, Marco Bezzecchi, Franco Morbidelli, and Luca Marini. But who are the next generation?
In 2026, the VR46 Riders Academy continues to invest in the next generation, with very young talents already integrated into its system. Celestino Vietti, Matteo Gabarrini, Lorenzo Pritelli, and Leonardo Casadei are part of this new generation, each at a different stage of their development.
Matteo Gabarrini, son of Cristian Gabarrini, signed by Rossi in 2024, currently races in Moto3 Junior. Lorenzo Pritelli made a name for himself in Pre-Moto3 and recently secured his first Moto4 European Cup victory at Jerez. Leonardo Casadei, the youngest member of the group, discovered ESBK Talent and JuniorGP as a wildcard entry, and also currently races in Moto4 EC. The idea remains the same: identify talent early, train them for a long time, and develop their skills all the way to MotoGP.
These riders, while still far from being able to aspire to a MotoGP ride, represent a significant part of the next generation. In the world championship, in addition to Rossi's academy, promising talents like Tony Arbolino in Moto2 and Matteo Bertelle and Guido Pini in Moto3 are also developing.