Gresini Racing will return to 2022 MotoGP as an Independent MotoGP Team with Ducati as the manufacturer of choice.

Team Gresini also confirmed the full Italian line-up for next season with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) and Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) as the main rider.

The agreement will see Team Gresini will compete in the 2022 and 2023 MotoGP season with a Desmosedici machine.

According to Gigi Dall’Igna, Ducati Corse General Manager, the possible agreement was met at the end of last year with (now deceased) Fausto Gresini.

“We’re incredibly happy to have reached this agreement with Gresini Racing for the next two MotoGP seasons. We had laid down the foundations of a possible agreement with Fausto already at the end of last year and we would like to thank – from the bottom of our hearts – his family for carrying this project forward with us.

“Gresini Racing has been an especially important institution in MotoGP for many years and we are confident this partnership, which can count on two very talented riders such as Enea and Fabio, will be of great satisfaction for all parties involved,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nadia Padovani, Team Principal and of owner of Gresini Racing, expressed her gratitude towards Ducati.

“It’s a very emotional moment for each of us. In previous months, our efforts merged with a strong emotional push to shape the future of Gresini Racing, and now are immensely proud and happy to make the official announcement. It is a project born out of continuity and based on values upon which Fausto built this amazing institution.

“My thank you goes first and foremost to Carmelo Ezpeleta for making sure we never felt alone during these months, to Ducati for trusting our projects, to Flex-Box who joined us in this new challenge as title sponsor and obviously to Fabio and Enea: I’m sure they will give their best to wave the Gresini Racing banner high.”

(source: MotoGP)

Ducati wants to keep its six MotoGP machines beyond 2021 despite Avintia decision to quit MotoGP at the end of this season.

The Italian marquee is the only factory team currently supplying GP machines to two satellite teams in the premier class.

Pramac received full factory support with Johann Zarco and Jorge Martin riding on the factory-spec GP21 identical to Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia.

Meanwhile, Ducati supplied an older machine to Avintia, but the two riders, Luca Marini and Enea Bastianini, are contracted directly to Ducati.

Speaking to the press, Ducati Corse Sports Director, Paolo Ciabatti, revealed the team wants to keep the six bikes in 2022.

“In our case, the idea is to continue in the coming years with six bikes, i.e. with a second independent team.

“It is a system that we are very comfortable with. It is also a way of being able to keep some riders who we believe have earned the right to be in MotoGP,” he said.

The ongoing 2021 season will be the last for Avintia as the team decided to quit MotoGP at the end of last season.

Avintia slots are expected to go to Valentino Rossi owned VR46 team, which leave Ducati with Gresini Racing.

According to reports, Ducati has contacted Gresini Racing about a potential tie-up with the latter no longer attached with Aprilia next season.

However, Ducati-Gresini potential tie-up will also bank on Suzuki and Aprilia effort not to pursue their own satellite operations next season.