The BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP Team is racing with one eye on the present and one eye on the future. With half the season still to go and hearts fully committed to getting the fight back on track in 2026, the Italian outfit has confirmed the foundations of its next chapter – a bold, ambitious 2027 line-up that combines a proven world champion with one of the most exciting young talents in the entire paddock, built on the basis of a strong long-term alliance with Ducati Corse.
At the heart of the announcement is a rider pairing that combines pedigree with promise. Joan Mir, No. 36, will lead the team, and his record needs no embellishment. A double world champion, Mir claimed the MotoGP crown in 2020 and the Moto3 title in 2017, confirming his status among the sport’s elite. With him comes number 96, Dani Holgado – a rider whose trajectory is rapidly upward. Moto3 World Championship runner-up in 2024, Holgado is currently one of the leading protagonists in this season’s Moto2 title battle, and his graduation to the premier class represents the realization of a lifelong ambition.
The technical backbone of the project remains strong. Gresini has confirmed the continuation of its collaboration with Ducati Corse through a multi-year agreement, extending a partnership that has delivered success both in the past and present. Crucially, the team situation remains unchanged, with Mir having an official factory-spec Ducati in the garage – a clear sign of the ambition underpinning this new era.
For Holgado, the confirmation marked an emotional milestone. “I am very happy to join the MotoGP project of the BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP Team: racing in the premier class is truly the dream of my life, and doing it with a team like this makes it even better. It is the result of many years of great effort and hard work. I know it will be a big challenge, but I am ready to grow as a rider and a person. Many thanks to Nadia and the team, my family and everyone who believed I have and continue to believe. I know it won’t be an easy journey, but I’m fully prepared for whatever lies ahead.”
Meanwhile, Mir will only make a public statement about his new deal when his current contract with Honda formally expires on December 31, 2026 – a procedural detail that keeps the world champion officially silent for now, even if his future has been confirmed.
Team owner Nadia Padovani framed the announcement as proof of continuity and ambition working together. “A lot will change from next year, but the essence of the BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP Team will remain the same. We will remain a team that works to progress season after season, and in 2027 we will do so with two riders in whom we have great confidence and whom we are ready to fully support. Dani is a profile we have been following for a long time and we are delighted that he can start his novice experience with us. Zone One MotoGP World Champion: his record speaks One is at the beginning of his journey, the other aims to rediscover his best sensations and make the most of his potential, we want to be a constant reference point for both.
Padovani also confirmed the continuation of the Ducati relationship while paying a heartfelt tribute to the riders departing at the end of the current campaign. “We will continue to race with Ducati Corse, which has proven to be a reliable and winning partner over the years, and we are very happy about that. Last but not least, at the end of the season we will say goodbye to Alex and Fermin, two riders who have given a lot to our team both in terms of results and human relations. Our thanks to them and all the best for the future.”
On behalf of the manufacturer, Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna confirmed the strength of the partnership, which he clearly values highly. “We are pleased to confirm the continuity of the multi-year collaboration between Ducati Corse and the BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP Team. This relationship, built over time, is based on shared values, technical expertise and a common determination to pursue ambitious goals on track. This partnership has been enriched by the significant sporting results achieved by the team, which is testament to the quality of the work done together. The BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP Team is a key player within our project. partner and we will continue to work shoulder to shoulder with the aim of carrying forward our shared growth journey.”
Gresini’s message is unambiguous. This is a team that refuses to stand still. As the 2026 season continues to present drama with the current line-up giving everything on track, the framework for 2027 is now firmly in place – a world champion trying to rediscover his best, a hungry rookie chasing a childhood dream, and a Ducati partnership that has proven its worth time and again. The present still matters a lot in Gresini. But based on this evidence the future looks very bright indeed.
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