VR46 could ‘finalise an agreement’ to ditch Ducati and become an Aprilia satellite team

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VR46 signed a ‘multi-year agreement’ to become Ducati’s lead satellite team in 2024. But now the future of their collaboration is in doubt.

VR46 have raced with Ducati bikes ever since they entered the premier class in 2022. They extended that partnership last year and took on the second-in-command role following Pramac’s defection to Yamaha.

It has been a successful combination, with Valentino Rossi’s team taking four wins and 34 podiums. They currently field Ducati-contracted rider Fabio Di Giannantonio and Rossi academy graduate Franco Morbidelli.

VR46 weren’t able to add to their victory tally in 2025, though they did score a total of 13 podiums. P3 in the championship matched their best effort, but they were rather upstaged by Alex Marquez and Gresini.

VR46 could form an alliance with Aprilia

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, VR46 could split with Ducati when their current contract comes to an end. They say that Rossi could ‘finalise an agreement’ to run Aprilia machinery instead.

Significantly, VR46 wouldn’t be replacing Trackhouse. Instead, Aprilia would have two satellite teams, which could give them a key advantage over their rivals when it comes to data-gathering.

Rossi already has a close relationship with Trackhouse boss Davide Brivio, who persuaded him to join Yamaha in 2004 and later became a consultant for VR46.

VR46 want Pedro Acosta to ride one of their RS-GP motorcycles should the proposed deal go ahead.

The dispute that may have strained VR46’s relationship with Ducati

Back in September, there were rumours that Francesco Bagnaia rode Morbidelli’s GP24 bike at the Misano test.

These were then confirmed by Pablo Nieto on MotoGP’s world feed. However, Ducati insisted that such details should remain private.

In light of the Aprilia links, one wonders if this rather public dispute damaged the relationship between the two outfits.

KTM satellite Tech3 could be looking for a new manufacturer soon amid cuts from Austria. They may be a natural target for Ducati, who surely won’t want to shrink from four teams to two in the space of a few years.