Valentino Rossi has refused to make one VR46 rider decision because it’s ‘too painful’

Add as preferred source on Google

VR46 are yet to confirm their rider line-up for the 2025 MotoGP season. They are one of only four players in this year’s market.

Three of the four Honda riders are out of contract, as is Pramac’s Jack Miller. Sixth in the championship, Franco Morbidelli is the highest-ranking rider facing an uncertain future.

Despite missing the Czech GP through injury, Morbidelli is only three points behind teammate Fabio di Giannantonio in the championship (fifth and sixth respectively). He joined from Pramac over the winter as the satellite team defected to Yamaha.

For Morbidelli, the benchmark has to be Alex Marquez – the leading GP24 rider. Marquez Jr is 122 points up the road, having scored 17 total podiums to the Italian’s three.

VR46 would find it too ‘painful’ to let Franco Morbidelli go

There is a legitimate argument to be made that the GP24 is the best bike on this year’s grid. Marc Marquez tops the championship on a 2025-spec Ducati, but he’s always been an outlier.

From that standpoint, Morbidelli may have underperformed. But he’s likely to receive a new contract for 2026 nonetheless.

According to MOW magazine, Valentino Rossi and VR46 would find it ‘too painful’ to part with the 29-year-old after a single season. That’s part of the reason their approach for Pedro Acosta went no further.

VR46 made a ‘timid’ enquiry about the KTM rider to establish the ‘conditions’ of a possible deal. But Acosta found that his contract was watertight, and his suitors weren’t ready to commit.

It’s likely that Morbidelli will sign another one-year deal, which will put him back in sync with the rest of the MotoGP rider market.

Where Valentino Rossi stands on signing Fermin Aldeguer from Gresini

Even with Acosta out of reach, one theoretical candidate for VR46 is Fermin Aldeguer. Aldeguer has signed a Ducati contract, which means he isn’t directly tied to Gresini.

The rookie is entitled to a factory bike next year under his contract. Given that VR46 are the second-in-command team, the move would be logical.

• READ MORE: Six-podium rider has become MotoGP’s ‘Lance Stroll’ with no threat of losing his seat

But Rossi and co. have made clear they don’t want Aldeguer, preferring to stick with their current line-up. They will bid to overhaul Gresini across the final 10 races.

As IRTA convene at the Austrian Grand Prix, VR46 are pushing for ‘equal’ status to the factory teams, along with their fellow independent squads. The framework for the Liberty Media era is being established.