Francesco B𝓀agnaia’s new contract with Ducati came༺ after negotiations which were more difficult than MotoGP fans might have anticipated.

The renewal of Bagnaia at the Italian manufacturer beyond the end of t𝓰his year appeared like a formality, and eventually he penned a multi-year commitment🌸 worth a reported minimum of £6m per season.

But there were still obstacles to overco𓆉me before Ducati could tie down the reigning MotoGP champion.

Mauro Grassilli, who took over from Paolo Ciabatti as Ducati sporting director, was responsible for the n🐼egotiations.

But he had n♚ever negotiated꧅ a MotoGP rider contract before.

“I come from a 20-year career in marketing, where my role was to b🐼ring together the greatest possible financial resources to make the MotoGP and WorldSBK teams work, through the relationship I had with the sponsors,” Grassilli explained to .

“This is the first time I negotiated a contract in which I am the one who has the waౠllet, the money.

“I thought it was easy, and in realit♋y it was much more difficult than I imagine⛄d.

“But🍎 thanks to all parties we ma🌳naged to reach an agreement.

“Everyone took the renewal of Pecco Bagnaia for granted, but it was nowhere near as easy as pe🧜opleඣ might think.”

The pressure to hang onto Bagnaia was increased by Gigi Dall’Igna’s hope that the cꦺontract would be finalised before the s🦋tart of the season.

It was ultimately confir꧋med before the Qatar Mot🐓oGP which Bagnaia then won.

“There was a moment when I did have doubts about being able to close it before Qatar, because perh🐷aps I lacked the experience of understandin🍷g the entire context,” Grassilli said.

“My first renewal, ☂with such an important rider, was not easyꦉ.”

He added: “The personal goal was to renew Pecco b﷽efore the first race, 🌊and we achieved it.

“And not only because of its resu🥀lts, but because it combines all the values ​​of our brand, and he is very loved by the entire Ducati universe.”

The race is o⛎n for the second factory Ducati seat in 2025, alongside Bagnaia🅷.

Enea Bastianin💎i is in possession but Pramac’s Jorge Martin will quit Ducati unless he is promoted next year.

Marc Marquez is also an intriguing option.

Grassilli explained: “Now we have deci𒈔ded to slow down and see how ev🍸ents develop on the track.

“We have a🌠 competitive bike, the most desired on the grid, and that is why we are in no hurry to decide who will 🍸be the second official rider.

“The choice will be important, it ha🔯s to be considered and it is something ꦿthat requires time.

“We have many brokers that we can decide from.”