Bautista has been a winning machine since returning to Ducat𝓡i last season, but when it comes to partnering the Spaniard🧔 at the Aruba.it Ducati team, questions remain unanswered.

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

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The problem for Rinaldi is that consistency con♊tinues to be an issue, while Axel Bassani, who desperately wants to replace 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, the former MotoGP rider will need to build on his solid opening few rounds by regularly challenging for the podium in𓂃 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 ti♏meframe for an announcement on their second rider. 

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 ꩵhave a good solution at the moment. 

"We are happy and, for sure, w꧒e 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 hav🐼e to change something or not. At the moment, nothing on the table."

While it remains to be seen who will partner 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 spo𓆉ke about thei𝔉r number one rider and the joy that he’s bringing to Ducati.

"Every time that I see a race with Alvaro, he makes me happy," s🔯aid 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, ꦍit’s really easy to work with him. I cannot ask for anything🃏 more."