Valentino Rossi won’t be happy amid ‘rumours’ that Dorna could interfere with VR46’s rider line-up

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Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team have one of the few seats available for the 2026 MotoGP season.

Fabio Di Giannantonio is tied to a contract until 2026, currently holding the third factory spec bike at Ducati alongside Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia. The 26-year-old and VR46 inherited the slot after Jorge Martin and Pramac left the setup for Aprilia and Yamaha respectively.

Like Bagnaia, Di Giannantonio has had difficulty adapting to the GP25, while Marquez has been utterly dominant on the bike, winning 19 out of 24 races, including Sprints. The VR46 rider has scored three podiums this season and sits fifth in the standings.

While he still has another season with MotoGP legend Rossi and his team, the Italian is already being tipped for changes at the Borgo Panigale outfit. Di Giannantonio has ‘been seen’ talking to Ducati over a possible factory move in 2027, as Bagnaia struggles against Marquez.

However, other reports have suggested that Ducati are ‘considering changing’ the third factory bike slot as Diggia lacks performance with the GP25. Regardless, he still has more security in the MotoGP rider market than teammate Franco Morbidelli, who is out of contract in 2025.

‘Rumours’ suggest Dorna want VR46 to replace Franco Morbidelli in 2026

Morbidelli is the only Ducati rider not officially tied down to a deal for 2026. Jack Miller (Pramac), Johann Zarco and Somkiat Chantra (LCR) are also yet to sign on for next season, with Luca Marini recently signing an extension with Honda.

Despite being on the GP24, Morbidelli has arguably been stronger than teammate Di Giannantonio, consistently scoring points and fighting at the front. He has missed the last two races after a nasty-looking accident in the Sprint at Sachsenring.

His performances in 2025 would surely merit a contract extension for 2026. However, journalist Markus Zorweg has hinted that there could be an intervention from Dorna, as there are ‘rumours’ that they have suggested to VR46 that Morbidelli should be replaced.

Pedro Acosta has been linked with VR46 amid his frustrations with KTM, but he has no way out of his contract until 2026. While the Spaniard will not replace Morbidelli, Zorweg said via Motorsport-Magazin Motorrad that Dorna may want to see a change at Rossi’s team.

“The place that Pedro Acosta would have received at VR46 will now most likely be kept by Franco Morbidelli. Teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio is firmly in the saddle with a contract until the end of 2026,” he said.

“Morbidelli’s contract expires at the end of 2025 and there have recently been some rumours that promoter Dorna have suggested to the VR46 team whether they might want to look for another rider.

“It is basically the case that Dorna does not actually bear any responsibility for a team’s rider selection, but in its role as promoter, it has always liked to exploit its own power to ensure the strongest possible field of riders, so to speak, [are on the grid].”

READ MORE: Everything to know about Franco Morbidelli from net worth to career stats

Valentino Rossi won’t be happy with Dorna rumours, Franco Morbidelli is one of his favourites

Morbidelli has been described as ‘the Lance Stroll of MotoGP’, as his relationship with Rossi makes it unlikely that he will be replaced. The seven-time premier class champion will not be happy with the rumours coming from Dorna.

Rossi has had a huge impact on Morbidelli’s career, from being teammates at Yamaha to giving him a lifeline in 2025 after his exit from Pramac. It would be assumed that the VR46 team owner would give the Italian a new contract, but if he is replaced, he does have options elsewhere.

Morbidelli could join Ducati in World Superbikes, as the Borgo Panigale outfit is searching for Alvaro Bautista’s replacement. The problem that VR46 has is that there are not many realistic candidates that the team could bring in for 2026.

Uccio Salucci thinks Acosta will reject VR46 in 2027 as he reckons the Spaniard will want a factory move. Moto2 riders Manu Gonzalez and Diogo Moreira are being linked with a move to MotoGP for next season; the team could enter the race to sign one of them if Morbidelli is axed.