Marco Bezzecchi
Valentino Rossi has teased MotoGP fans about a potential change to VR46’s rider line-up for the 2027 premier class campaign. Two riders stand out as their most likely options.
During VR46 Racing’s season launch for the upcoming premier class term, Valentino Rossi was asked about the future of his MotoGP outfit and more specifically, the riders they will house heading into the sport’s new regulatory era in 2027.
The Doctor predicts an active rider market this year, telling reporters via Motosan, “There will be a lot of movement from May onwards. The first races will be crucial.”
He was then asked if he’s already decided on who he wants in the seats, to which he replied with a wink, “I know, but I can’t say.”
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Pedro Acosta could lead VR46’s MotoGP charge in 2027 alongside Fabio Di Giannantonio
Through his very own VR46 Riders Academy, Rossi shares ties with several riders who currently compete on the MotoGP grid.
Every line-up thus far has seated at least one member of the talent programme, but all signs are pointing towards the 2027 season being the first year of their line-up being completely outsourced.
Pedro Acosta is VR46’s main target. The 21-year-old is one of the brightest talents on the grid at the moment, and Rossi is a big fan of the grit and determination he brings to the race track.
It has been reported that Acosta has already signed a deal with Ducati in 2027. Indeed, nothing has been confirmed yet, meaning that any prospective deal could signify factory support from inside one of the Italian constructor’s satellite teams.
From the mouth of VR46 boss Pablo Nieto, retaining Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli is their priority, but it’s currently looking like the former is better-placed to keep his spot at the Italian team over the latter.
Di Giannantonio caught the eye of Luigi Dall’Igna in the second half of the 2025 campaign, and the Ducati boss felt like the Italian rider’s performances on factory machinery went a bit under the radar.
He will be enjoying factory support again in the upcoming term, while Morbidelli will be racing atop the notoriously hard-to-wrangle GP25.
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Franco Morbidelli may be on his way out of VR46 and Francesco Bagnaia could be another option for them
If Morbidelli replicates the same difficulties as Francesco Bagnaia did on the GP25, then the 2026 MotoGP season could prove to be his last in VR46 colours.
Due to the bad-boy reputation he holds in the paddock, VR46 are getting impatient with having to protect Morbidelli from bad press on race weekends.
Paired with the sentiment that Rossi had over Morbidelli’s inconsistency not warranting a factory bike for 2026, an exit could be on the cards for the Italian.
VR46 has also emerged as a potential landing spot for Bagnaia, if Ducati opt to move on from his services at the end of the year.
A satellite Ducati move for him may be out of question due to his status as an already established world champion in the premier class, but VR46 could also prove to be the perfect ‘safety cushion’ for Bagnaia to find some confidence in his abilities again.
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