Who Will Replace Di Giannantonio? VR46’s Crucial Decision Analyzed

Who should VR46 choose? Our opinions on the major choices

Our team analyzes the crucial decision facing VR46

The VR46 team is required to find a substitute for Fabio di Giannantonio, as he is set to have surgery on his shoulder, leaving him unable to compete in the last two MotoGP races of the

Several Ducati racers are being considered for a surprise opportunity to compete in Sepang and Valencia.

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Andrea Iannone, Nicolo Bulega, Michele Pirro, and Danilo Petrucci have been mentioned as potential candidates.

Our MotoGP reporters have shared their opinions…

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Peter McLaren states: "Although there are strong arguments for each of the candidates being discussed, I believe Iannone stands out as the most noteworthy. His return to MotoGP after such an extended absence will undoubtedly capture significant attention."

"In my opinion, it would be more beneficial for Bulega to receive it. Firstly, because he has outshone everyone else on the list in the Superbike category this season, securing second place in the world championship as a newcomer."

"Considering his long association with the VR46 Academy and his involvement with their race team, along with his eventual departure from VR46, it would be great to see him return to the VR46 fold."

"One aspect to consider is that entering MotoGP without any prior testing is significant, especially if someone has never been on a MotoGP bike before. However, if the opportunity involves possibly participating in two races, there's a chance it might be one racer for the Sepang event and another, like Pirro, for Valencia. In this case, Bulega could treat the Sepang race as a testing ground to familiarize himself with the bike."

Bulega stands out as the sole racer I've heard being speculated about having a prospective full-time career in MotoGP. With Ducati set to part ways with three young talents—Jorge Martin, Enea Bastianini, and Marco Bezzecchi—by the end of the year, there will be a gap to fill for future prospects.

Bulega is emerging as a standout talent in the Superbike series and might one day be considered by Ducati for a spot in MotoGP.

A portion of my feelings leans toward feeling sorry for Pirro, who missed out on the wild-card opportunities because of this year's concessions. It would be great if he could receive some form of recognition for all the testing he's done this year, as he likely has the most intimate knowledge of the bike. Meanwhile, Petrucci and Bautista are the ones with the most recent experience in MotoGP.

"Overall, I would choose Bulega, assuming he's interested in doing it!"

Petrucci 'creates less of a buzz'

According to Lewis Duncan, Danilo Petrucci has enjoyed a remarkable season in the World Superbike Championship while riding a satellite Ducati. He maintained the same impressive consistency he displayed in his debut year in the series in 2023. A trio of victories at Cremona contributed to his success in securing the independent riders' title and made him a regular contender for podium finishes.

Well-known and liked by many, Petrucci taking on a few races with VR46 would be met positively by those in the paddock. His presence would also create less controversy compared to Andrea Iannone, due to Iannone's past issues despite his single race victory.

Two-time Grand Prix champion Petrucci recently gained MotoGP experience on the GP23 bike when he filled in for Enea Bastianini at the French Grand Prix, achieving a respectable 11th-place finish.

"He completely outperformed Bautista!"

Jordan Moreland reports: In 2024, Nicolo Bulega was expected to have a relatively subdued debut season in WorldSBK. He joined the official Ducati team, partnering with the current World Champion, Alvaro Bautista, who was aiming to secure his third consecutive title.

Throughout the season, Bulega didn't just surpass Bautista; he completely dominated him. In every event, Bulega managed to secure a better qualifying position than Bautista and concluded the season with a substantial 127-point lead over his teammate.

He asserted himself as Ducati's leading rider in the Superbike series. Admittedly, Toprak Razgatlioglu's absence from several rounds following his frightening accident in France played a role in allowing Bulega to push the championship battle to the final round. Nonetheless, his intense duels with the exceptional Razgatlioglu have been particularly striking, especially their showdown in the Superpole race at Estoril, where he emerged victorious by a mere 0.004 seconds at the finish line.

Throughout the season, Bulega has demonstrated that he has grown into an exceptional racer. Many had anticipated this potential during his early days in the Grand Prix circuit when he was associated with the VR46 team. It would be a remarkable tale if he were to be recognized for his outstanding debut season in WorldSBK and return to racing under the VR46 banner once more.

Inquire with Bulega, and if his response is negative…

Alex Whitworth notes: In some respects, VR46's choice for Di Giannantonio's replacement in the upcoming races in Malaysia and Valencia is quite simple. They have the advantage of providing the second-best motorcycle available, and with Valentino Rossi at the helm of the team, they have the liberty to select almost anyone they desire.

If they decide to choose Nicolo Bulega.

The Italian rider's performance was impressive, as he was the highest-ranked Ducati competitor in the WorldSBK standings this year. In his debut season, he managed to secure victories in six out of the 36 races.

He has a wealth of experience with the VR46 team, competing in Moto3 from 2016 to 2018 and in Moto2 in 2019.

During the final World Superbike event in Jerez last weekend, he expressed uncertainty about whether participating in MotoGP without prior testing would be beneficial for him.

Speaking to Eurosport following his victory in Race 1 at Jerez, Bulega expressed that attending a MotoGP race without prior testing might not be the best decision. However, he quickly noted, "If there's a chance for me to try, then why not?"

Bulega, therefore, will need quite a bit of persuasion.

Andrea Iannone is eager to return to MotoGP, as he has been persistently seeking a way back to the Grand Prix paddock since the start of the year.

Failing to land a full-time MotoGP position for 2025, the VR46 substitute could potentially fulfill Iannone's passion for competing in Grand Prix races.

However, is VR46 willing to take the gamble of choosing Iannone and potentially have him see it as a tryout for a 2026 position? This decision might lead to impressive lap performances, but it could also lead to a significant expense from potential crashes.

Compared to Iannone, Danilo Petrucci appears to be a more reliable choice. The Italian racer doesn't appear to be pursuing a permanent return to MotoGP and has grown accustomed to stepping in as a substitute rider. He filled in for Joan Mir at the end of 2022 on the Suzuki team and for Enea Bastianini at the Le Mans race in 2023.

Although Petrucci has secured victories in three WorldSBK races this season, he endured significant injuries back in April and has scarcely taken a break since resuming competition in June. The idea of prolonging his season by another month just to potentially be overtaken by Augusto Fernandez for a 17th place finish in a Sprint race now appears uncertain.

The ultimate decision appears to be the dependable Michele Pirro. As a test rider for Ducati, Pirro has not participated in any MotoGP races this year due to new concession rules that prevent Ducati from having wildcard entries. However, he has been actively testing the Desmosedici motorcycle and recently reclaimed the Italian CIV Superbike championship, which he previously lost in a dramatic and contentious event at Imola in 2023.

By bringing Pirro on board, VR46 will have a clear understanding of what to expect, although it is doubtful that this will lead to exceptional achievements in 2024.

Choosing the right option is challenging for VR46. If it were up to me, I would reach out to Bulega first, and if he declined, I would then contact Pirro.

'Iannone Still Has More to Prove'

Derry Munikartono comments: If I were to choose a rider to fill the spot at VR46, it would be Andrea Iannone. I believe he still has more to achieve in MotoGP, especially considering his abrupt departure from the 2020 season.

Following a four-year ban, Iannone made his comeback to competitive racing in the World Superbike series. Despite his time away, he displayed impressive skill by securing a podium finish in his first WorldSBK event and claimed his first win in Race 1 at Aragon.

The opportunity for a MotoGP return arose at VR46, potentially as a temporary replacement for the last two races of the season. Regardless of the circumstances, this would be an extraordinary return narrative, and there's a possibility that The Maniac could leave a lasting mark during his short stint.

Certainly, MotoGP has changed significantly since Iannone has been away. However, given his remarkable ability to adjust, as demonstrated in WorldSBK this year, he might have the chance to wrap up his career in MotoGP.

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