Marco Bezzecchi
VR46 are set to become the second-in-command team at Ducati this year. This follows the departure of Pramac, who fielded the world champion Jorge Martin last season.
Valentino Rossi has struck a deal to secure a factory bike for his Tavullia-based squad. That will go to Fabio Di Giannantonio, who’s contracted to Ducati.
Franco Morbidelli, Di Giannantonio’s teammate and a product of the VR46 academy, retains the same bike as last year after joining from Pramac. But the performance difference between the two specs is likely to be relatively small.
Since joining the MotoGP field in 2022, VR46 have won three Grands Prix, all through Marco Bezzecchi, who’s now racing for Aprilia. They’ve scored 10 podiums overall.
Provided Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia don’t sweep the board, there should be opportunities for them to add to their victory tally this season. Di Giannantonio is recovering from injury, but Ducati clearly have a great deal of faith in him, and Morbidelli has already won three times at the highest level.
But even amidst the excitement, there was one high-profile absentee at the team’s launch in Indonesia last weekend – its eponymous owner.
VR46 are an ‘afterthought’ for MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi
VR46’s fluorescent yellow livery is largely the same as it was last year. It does, though, feature new tributes to The Doctor.
For instance, in the background of the rider numbers, there’s an outline of Rossi’s ’46’. But the Italian wasn’t there to see it in the flesh.
Speaking on The Race MotoGP podcast, journalist Simon Patterson relayed his stance on the team. He views them predominantly as a business and has little interest so long as they’re making money.
His reluctance to attend races and support his colleagues is telling in that respect. While the trip to Indonesia would have been taxing, the sponsors would have liked to see him attend.
“Valentino Rossi is a businessman who’s never felt particularly engaged with running a MotoGP team, to be perfectly honest,” Patterson said. “The team has always felt like a bit of an afterthought, something that he saw an opportunity to do, and to probably make money from doing.
“I’m not at all surprised that he didn’t turn up. At the end of the day, how many races did he turn up to watch them race in over the last two seasons? Very few.
“He’s not been super engaged with this team. I’m sure that there was quite a bit of pressure from Indonesian sponsors for him to be there.”
Valentino Rossi protege Franco Morbidelli makes big admission ahead of VR46 debut
Rossi has his own pursuits outside of motorcycle racing, having retired at the end of the 2021 season. He’ll continue competing in the LMGP3 class of the World Endurance Championship this year.
In fact, his main involvement in MotoGP might not concern VR46 at all. Instead, Rossi could enlist his ‘press allies’ against Marquez to help his close ally Bagnaia.
Closer to home, Morbidelli may lean on the advice of his mentor this year. He endured a difficult 2024 season that seems to have dented his confidence.
Indeed, Morbidelli admits he’s ‘always struggled’ to adapt to new bikes during his career. Fortunately, he’ll be on a familiar saddle come the Thailand Grand Prix.
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