What Franco Morbidelli is saying about his VR46 future amid rumours of Ducati fielding six factory bikes in 2026

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Franco Morbidelli is currently the highest-placed rider on the MotoGP grid to not have a seat set in stone for the 2026 season.

After getting his first taste atop a Ducati bike during Pramac’s final year as a satellite team for the Italian constructor in 2024, Morbidelli made the move to VR46 in 2025 on a one-year deal in replacement of the outgoing Marco Bezzecchi.

The Italian rider is currently sixth in the riders’ championship as the second-lowest placing full-time Ducati rider on the grid, and stands as the ninth best performer in MotoGP News’ rankings at the start of the summer break.

With his place in MotoGP still up in the air, there has been talk of Morbidelli riding for Ducati in the World Superbikes championship if he does end up departing from VR46 at the end of 2025.

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

Franco Morbidelli doesn’t have ‘any major concerns’ over his MotoGP future despite not yet having a deal for 2026

Morbidelli joins Luca Marini, Johann Zarco, Jack Miller and Somkiat Chantra as the only members of the current grid to not be aware of their future in MotoGP.

Despite the number of open seats on the 2026 grid slowly dwindling, Morbidelli isn’t in a position where he is nervous about whether he will have a ride for next season, as said in a recent interview with GPOne.

In fact, he is more concerned about which edition of Ducati bike he will be riding instead, stating, “I’m not worried about next year. The team and I are talking more and more together.

“We know that anything can happen in this world, but I don’t have any major concerns.

“As for having six identical bikes, that would be nice. Which one would I choose? The best one! But I’ve never tried the GP25.”

The talk of Ducati fielding six identical bikes next season came after VR46 and other satellite teams expressed their desire to become ‘officialised’ and ‘gain equal rights’ to the factory teams who are supplying them.

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

Franco Morbidelli’s seat at VR46 could be safe due to his personal ties with Valentino Rossi

As the inaugural member of the VR46 Riders’ Academy, Morbidelli has been mentored by Valentino Rossi since his maiden season in Moto2 in 2013.

The pair were teammates during Rossi’s final season of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, with them sharing a garage at the Petronas Yamaha satellite team.

Rossi once recalled why racing against Morbidelli was more intense than any other rider, due to the close personal ties he has with him.

This has played a part in the reason why the Italian rider isn’t too concerned with the status of his contract at VR46 Racing, with reports claiming that Rossi would find it ‘painful’ to let Morbidelli go. This, in turn, led to the team’s pursuit of Pedro Acosta coming to a standstill.

Morbidelli has been dubbed MotoGP’s version of Lance Stroll due to the fact that he has very little threat of losing his seat at the team, thanks to Rossi’s adoration of him.