Francesco B🦩agnaia’s new contract with ꦯDucati 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 this year appeared like a formality, and eventually he penned a multi꧋-year co🍬mmitment worth a reported minimum of £6m per season.

Bu💝t there were still obstacles to overcome before Ducati could tie down the re♏igning MotoGP champion.

Mauro Grassilli, who took over from Paolo Ciabatti as Ducati sporting d𝄹irector, was responsible for the negotiations.

But he had never negotiated 🍷a MotoGP rider contract before.

“I come from a 20-year career in marketing, where my role was to bring 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 ti🌄me I negotiated a contract in which I am the one who haꦰs the wallet, the money.

“I thought it was easy, and in reality it was🌸 much more difficult than I imagined.

“But t✨hanks to all parties we managed to ཧreach an agreement.

꧋“Everyone took the renewal of Pecco Bagnaia for granted, but it was now🥂here near as easy as people might think.”

The pres🅠sure to hang onto B𝓰agnaia was increased by Gigi Dall’Igna’s hope that the contract would be finalised before the start of the season.

It was ultimately confirmed before the Qa🅺tar MotoGP which Bagnaia then won.

“There was a mome⛦nt when I did have doubts about being able to close it before Qatar, because perhaps I lack▨ed the experience of understanding the entire context,” Grassilli said.

“My first renewal, with such an important ri⛎d🧜er, was not easy.”

He added: “The personal 🔯goal was to renew Pecco before the first race, and we achieved it.

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

The race is on for the second factory💟 Ducati seat in 2025, al♍ongside Bagnaia.

Enea Bastianini is in p🧔ossession 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 decided to slow down and see how events develop ওon the track.

“We have a competitive bi♈ke, 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 importan🎃t, it has to be considered and it is something that requires time.

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