Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 rider / AFP7 via Europa Press
As the MotoGP season kicks off, the paddock remains buzzing with transfer rumors, even though most moves seem finalized. A few seats are still up for grabs, and some meetings have yet to conclude. Among those still working behind the scenes is the Pertamina Enduro VR46 team, which is exhausting its options to keep Fabio Di Giannantonio in the fold. The Roman rider is the top priority for Valentino Rossi’s squad, as recently acknowledged by team principal Uccio Salucci.
“He is our priority, and we are trying to put together an offer that matches the Di Giannantonio of today, both technically and financially. We hope to succeed and that he decides to stay with us for the coming years,” Salucci told Motorsport.
Fabio Di Giannantonio, Pertamina Enduro VR46 rider / AFP7 via Europa Press
The goal is clear: VR46 knows that DiGia is currently one of the most sought-after riders in the championship, with several suitors lining up.
### Factory Option
According to Sky Sport Italia, one of those suitors is KTM. Although VR46 has tried to retain the Italian, he reportedly favors signing with a factory team for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. This would make him the teammate of Álex Márquez at the Austrian squad.
Spanish MotoGP rider Álex Márquez celebrates his victory after the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez-Angel Nieto circuit. EFE / José Manuel Vidal
Rumors suggest that Álex Márquez, from Cervera, would join as a replacement for Pedro Acosta. If Di Giannantonio signs with KTM, he would effectively push Brad Binder out of the factory team. This would also be a blow to Maverick Viñales, currently with KTM Tech3, who was hoping for that factory seat.
### Rising Stock
The #49 rider has become one of the championship’s safest bets and one of the most consistent performers, building on the promising signs seen at the end of 2025. The Roman currently sits third in the overall standings after a fourth-place finish in France. So far this season, he has secured two Sunday podiums—one in Brazil and a third in Jerez—along with a sprint podium in Brazil and two pole positions.
Podium at the Spanish GP / Roman Rios / EFE
Those numbers make him the best Ducati rider at the moment, even ahead of factory riders Marc Márquez and Pecco Bagnaia. Of course, he is riding the factory-spec Desmosedici GP26, the top-tier machine.