The world of MotoGP is moving quickly, with VR46 Racing Team receiving significant interest from Aprilia to offer satellite bikes in the new 850cc era starting in 2027. Despite this, the team led by Valentino Rossi is about to secure a new agreement with Ducati.
Since its entry into the top category in 2022, VR46 has been a customer team of Ducati, and thanks to the excellence of the Desmosedici, it has become one of the winning teams in multiple races in the championship.
The relationship between VR46 and the Borgo Panigale brand strengthened in 2024, when they became a team with official Ducati support, with rider Fabio di Giannantonio starting to receive more advanced machinery directly from the brand.
Despite speculation about the future of their contract, which will end at the conclusion of the 2026 season, Uccio Salucci, team director, has confirmed that, despite talks with Aprilia, they never seriously considered leaving Ducati.
“We have talked to Aprilia because they wanted to contact us and we are gentlemen. I have known Massimo Rivola for many years, but I never thought about changing Ducati,” Salucci commented in an interview.
With Ducati, VR46 can boast of having one of the best teams on the grid. Currently, Ducati has reduced its presence to just two satellite teams, in addition to its official team, after Pramac switched to Yamaha last year.
With the final touches regarding the contract with Ducati, Salucci indicated that they are in the final phase of negotiations, hoping to finalize the deal next month. This new contract will extend for three seasons, including the 2027, 2028, and 2029 seasons.
“We are very close to signing. Only small details remain. I think there could be an announcement next month,” Salucci added.
The imminent technical overhaul for 2027 is undoubtedly a hot topic, as teams and manufacturers are also working on a new commercial agreement with MotoGP Sports Entertainment, which will come into effect next year. Until this agreement is formalized, it is unlikely that teams will officially announce their rider lineups or alliances with manufacturers for 2027.
SourceID: SRC_0010a4c5e312e8838f1431da0c9a523039181dd6