Gresini Racing will continue into MotoGP 2022 with young guns Enea Bastianini and Fabio Giannantonio competing on a brace of Ducati Desmosedicis in a two-year deal with the Bologna factory.

Currently, the team runs Aprilia’s factory squad but with the Noale outfit taking their ball home at the end of this, Gresini opted to switch to the red corner.

“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,” said Nadia Padovini, team owner.

“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.”

Ducati head honcho Gigi Dall’Igna added: “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.”

This confirms at least six Ducatis on the grid with the possibility of VR46 making it eight with Luca Marini and probably Marco Bezzecchi.