Bautista has been a winning machine since r🉐eturning to Ducati last season, but when it comes to partnering the 𒆙Spaniard at the Aruba.it Ducati team, questions remain unanswered.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi is 𝕴the rider currently in the position of teammate to Bautista, and will ꧂be the favourite to retain his seat if he can deliver on the promise that has been shown at times.

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The problem for 💞Rinaldi is that consistency continues to be an issue, while Axel Bassani, who desperately wants to repla💎ce his fellow Italian, is ahead of him in the championship standings. 

Danilo Petrucci is another rider that could be in line for a switch to the factory team, however, tౠhe former MotoGP rider will need to build on his solid opening few rounds by regularly challenging for the podium in order for that to happen. 

In no rush to make a decision, Ducati Corse General Manager, Gigi Dall’Igna, says mid-season could be the timeframe for an announcement on their second riꦗder. 

Dall’Igna told WorldSBK.com: "We don’t know. I think that we are in the position🅰 that we can wait a little bit. We don’t have to find a solution because we don’t have a good solution at the moment. 

"We are happy and, for s🌊ure, we can wait a little bit to understand what happens in reality. 

"Maybe in the middle 🅠of the season, we can try to understand if we have to change something or not. At the moment, nothing on the table."

While it remains to be seen who will pa꧒rtner Bautista, the reigning world champion will continue with the team for a third consecutive season in 2024, after the Italian manufacturer made it a priority to re-sign the 38-year-old.

Winner of 11 from 12 races so far this season, Dall’Igna also spoke about their number oneꦐ rider and the joy that ꧅he’s bringing to Ducati.

"Every time that I see ൩a race with Alvaro, he makes me happy," said Dall’Igna. "I cannot ask for anything better, honestly. 

"I’m really happy with his feeling with the bike, with his style of work because he works very well with all of us. Honestly, it’s really easy to work wꦛith him. I cannot ask for anything more."