Gresini Ducati sign Alex Marquez, retain Fabio di Giannantonio for 2023 MotoGP

Gresini Racing has confirmed Alex Marquez will join Fabio di Giannantonio in its team for the 2023 MotoGP World Championship season.

The Italian outfit, which reverted back to privateer status ahead of the 2022 MotoGP season following its split from Aprilia, is the first satellite set-up to announce its full rider line-up for next season.

Marquez comes to Gresini as its replacement for Enea Bastianini for what will be fourth season in MotoGP but his first on anything other than Honda machinery.

Delighted to be getting the nod for the competitive seat, Marquez - a two-time podium winner - says the change of machinery and setting has given him fresh motivation after three occasionally challenging seasons on temperamental Honda machinery.

“I’m really happy to announce that I’ll be joining Team Gresini MotoGP, and I’m also very excited to be starting this new adventure: it was crucial for me to change in order to recover the same type of motivation I had when I first joined this class. 

“This was the best option for me, with a team that helped writing the history of this championship. I would like to thank Nadia, Carlo and all the GR staff for believing in me. I still have half a season left to do my best before starting 2023 with top motivation.”

Di Giannantonio, meanwhile, has earned his contract extension mid-way through a rookie campaign that has gathered momentum in recent rounds, highlighted by a shock maiden pole position in the Italian MotoGP at Mugello and first top ten finish last time out in Germany.

“I’m really happy to extend my partnership with this team, which is like a family to me. It’s great because we’ll continue on this learning curve, and we’ll be doing so with a Ducati – and that makes me very happy. 

“Continuity is key in MotoGP in order to be able to work on myself to be the best possible. We have been working on this contract extension for a little while, and now we can finally announce it. 

“Obviously the goals will be higher: we’ll be using this second part of the season to improve our results and then next year I really want to make that step up.”