Enea Bastianini recalls the Valentino Rossi offer that ‘wasn’t easy’ to reject

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Enea Bastianini is somewhat of an outsider among the Italian riders in MotoGP today, compared to Francesco Bagnaia, Franco Morbidelli, Marco Bezzecchi and Luca Marini.

He also stands alone compared to Fabio Di Giannantonio after the Roman joined VR46 in the 2024 MotoGP season. The 26-year-old’s switch to the satellite Ducati crew from Gresini last year saw Di Giannantonio become the first VR46 MotoGP rider not from the VR46 Academy.

Bastianini continues to stand alone as the only Italian on the 2025 MotoGP grid without any affiliation to VR46 or the Academy. The KTM Tech3 star rose the ranks without the aid of the production line Valentino Rossi created in 2013 and made Morbidelli the first Academy rider.

It is almost a strange scenario for Bastianini not to be affiliated with the VR46 Academy after being born in Rimini – minutes from Misano and also down the road from Rossi’s hometown of Tavullia. Yet Bastianini says he has ‘never’ been invited to join the VR46 Academy, to date.

Enea Bastianini ‘never’ received an offer from the VR46 Academy, only their Moto3 team

Bastianini made his breakthrough on the world championship stage on the 2014 Moto3 grid under the arm of another Italian in Fausto Gresini. Rossi’s VR46 team also made their debut in the lightweight class that year, and Bastianini caught the team’s eye but not the Academy.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Enea Bastianini from net worth to career stats

After finishing ninth in the 2014 Moto3 standings as a rookie, VR46 approached Bastianini to discuss racing for them in 2015… but not as a VR46 Academy rider. It was not easy for him to reject that offer, but the situation the Italian had with Gresini’s Moto3 team eased the blow.

Bastianini said on Mig Babol: “It’s a question that a lot of people have asked me all the time, ever since I started racing. But the answer, in my opinion, is quite simple. I was never actually asked to join the Academy.

“But after the first year in the world championship, I was asked to join the VR46 team. I started my journey in the world championship alone and with Gresini, so [I] never had the opportunity to join the Academy, even though there were already some riders in it. Nothing.

“They asked me afterwards if I wanted to join the VR46 team. But honestly, at that moment, I felt very comfortable at Gresini. We were getting results. It wasn’t easy to say no. But in the end, I was in a comfortable situation, and I stayed like that until today.”

VR46 continue to overlook Enea Bastianini even when rival teams take an interest

Bastianini would not regret his decision to reject VR46’s Moto3 team for the 2015 season to stay at Gresini, as he finished third in the standings and then second in 2016. He eventually moved up to Moto2 in 2019 with Italtrans, for whom Bastianini lifted the 2020 title, as well.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Valentino Rossi’s VR46 from current riders to bike

MotoGP then beckoned in 2021, and a reunion with Gresini also followed in 2022. Bastianini even finished third in the 2022 MotoGP standings to seal a move to the factory Ducati team for 2023. Yet Bastianini’s time among the Ducati fold ended in 2025 as he joined KTM Tech3.

While Bastianini initially struggled to adapt to his KTM RC16 at Tech3, his CV as a seven-time MotoGP Grand Prix winner, 18-time podium finisher and two-time polesitter put rival outfits on alert. Bastianini was ready to end his factory KTM contract through 2026 due to his woes.

Yet even had the Italian walked away from Tech3, amid Aprilia and Pramac showing interest in signing Bastianini this year, VR46 might have overlooked him once again. Di Giannantonio is due to race for VR46 through 2026, and Morbidelli is in talks with VR46 for a new contract.