Marco Bezzecchi
Uccio Salucci has revealed that VR46 could announce a new contract with Ducati in the “next month”, despite Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola opening talks with the team.
VR46 gained greater prominence within the Ducati ranks in 2025 after they replaced Pramac as the Borgo Panigale team’s main satellite outfit. But VR46 do not currently have a contract to continue running satellite Desmosedicis beyond 2026 and into the 2027 regulations cycle.
Ducati have supplied VR46 with one factory-spec bike for Fabio Di Giannantonio since 2025 as part of their increased partnership, while Franco Morbidelli has used a year-old machine in each of the past two years. Ducati also gave Di Giannantonio a works contract from 2025.
MotoGP’s 2027 regulations, which will yield 850cc engines and a full ban on the ride height devices that Ducati spearheaded, have seen some satellite squads consider changing bikes. Aprilia also approached VR46 to learn their interest in ditching Ducati for their Italian rivals.
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Uccio Salucci claims VR46 could announce a new satellite Ducati contract in the ‘next month’
Team director Salucci has previously revealed that VR46 have spoken with Aprilia about the idea of switching bike from 2027. Salucci now claims that Aprilia CEO Rivola was behind the Noale natives’ interest in VR46, but the team Valentino Rossi founded were not interested.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Valentino Rossi’s VR46 from current riders to bike
Instead, Salucci states that VR46 never hesitated to discuss a new deal with Ducati that he believes could be finalised in the next month. VR46 and Ducati now only have a few “small details” to resolve before Salucci is ready to re-commit Rossi’s team to the Bologna Bullets.
Salucci told Motorsport.com: “We spoke a bit with Aprilia because they wanted to talk to us, and we’re gentlemen.
“I’ve known Massimo Rivola for many years. When Valentino tested Formula 1 with Ferrari, Massimo Rivola handled the situation in 2004 – 22 years ago.
“I know Massimo, he’s a good person and an excellent manager. We’ve spoken a couple of times, two or three, why not? But I’ve never thought about changing and leaving Ducati.
“We’re very close to signing. There are only a few small details left to work out. I think there could be an announcement next month. We’re really close to re-signing with Ducati.”
VR46 could have to wait for Ducati to finalise a new contract with MotoGP for 2027
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While Salucci thinks VR46 could announce their new contract with Ducati in the next month, the team Rossi founded may have to wait until the Borgo Panigale team have finalised a new contract with MotoGP as negotiations are ongoing between the series and the constructors.
A separate report from Motorsport.com notes that Ducati, Aprilia, Yamaha and KTM are still locked in talks with MotoGP’s rebranded parent company MotoGP Sports Entertainment. It is believed that Honda are distancing themselves from the constructors’ association’s talks.
MotoGP does not currently have a deal in place with the constructors for beyond the 2026 season, so any deal for Ducati to continue supplying VR46 with bikes in 2027 would weaken the brand’s negotiating position. It is also said to be why no rider moves have been finalised.
It was recently suggested that MotoGP teams have agreed to delay announcing their 2027 rider line-ups, as confirming their riders for next season would prove their commitment to the series when they are trying to negotiate the best possible terms for the next five years.
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