The MotoGP grid remains dominated by Spanish and Italian riders, but pundit Marco Melandri sees a ‘generational’ issue undermining the latter’s efforts in the premier class.
Of the 22 full-time drivers on the 2026 grid, 15 are from any country. Spain currently holds the bragging rights, with nine riders representing the Iberian nation and both recent world champions carrying the Spanish flag on their victory laps.
Do you remember most of the MotoGP legend from the Valentino Rossi VR46 Riders Academy?
While Italy remains a giant part of the grid, the number of Italian riders has steadily declined in recent years. Valentino Rossi’s Leaving the grid blank because the sport had a problem trying to fill it.
On top of that, Ducati boss Davide Tardozzi recently revealed. The ‘problem’ Italy still faces following Rossi’s exit From the original episode, showing how MotoGP’s popularity in the country is now trending downwards.
MotoGP pundit Marco Melandri He agreed and shared his concern over the ‘generation gap’ now emerging for Italian riders.
Marco Melandri sees ‘generation gap’ emerging in MotoGP amid wave of Moto2 talent
Speaking through the latest episode Box discussion podcast, Melandri gives an update to co-host and F1 expert David Valsecchi on the Italian future in the premier class.
Who will beat Valentino Rossi on the current MotoGP grid today?
“MotoGP now allows you to push yourself to your limits instantly,” he began. “In our time, everything was new, still growing, so it was very complicated. But yes, the problem is that even Italians are not exactly spring chickens now – Bezchichi is 27.”
“So is he Bagnaya And Bastianini starts to go a little. Bulega is coming, but he is not a spring chicken either, but we have Moreira, 20 and 21, Acosta, 22, and the Colombian David Alonso, who is also absolutely brilliant.
“We don’t have any new blood at the moment. There’s Vieti, who has some promise, but he’s not young yet, you know what I mean? Unfortunately, as things go, I see a generation gap.”
Valentino Rossi’s plan for the next Italian MotoGP riders
Rossi’s VR46 Riders Academy Italy continues to strive to further the legacy of the iconic former rider by developing the next crop of talent, but as Melandri said, Vitti is currently the academy’s sole representative on the Grand Prix motorcycle racing circuit.
The seven-time MotoGP world champion has some hope for the future, however, with three more youngsters added to the ranks in recent years.
Matteo Gabarini, the son of Bagnaia’s team leader at Ducati, joined the academy in 2024 and was later joined by Lorenzo Pretelli and Leonardo Casadei the following year.
All three are eyeing a move to Moto3 in the coming years to prove Melandri wrong about his judgment on the future of the sport.
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