Franco Morbidelli signs with Valentino Rossi’s VR46 MotoGP Team for 2025
Franco Morbidelli has signed with mentor Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP team, VR46 Racing, for the 2025 season, staying aboard a Ducati after his brief stint with Prima Pramac.
Morbidelli will partner Fabio Di Giannantonio next season at VR46, replacing Marco Bezzecchi, who will join the Factory Aprilia team alongside Jorge Martin, Meaning Prima Pramac will have a completely fresh line-up as they enter a new era, partnering with Japanese manufacturer Yamaha as their satellite team next year.
VR46 will be the main satellite team for Ducati next year, and will receive factory help for their Desmosedici machines. Morbidelli is a proven talent on the MotoGP grid, albeit an inconsistent one. The Italian finished runner-up in the 2020 MotoGP championship, narrowly beaten by current Repsol Honda rider, Joan Mir. Morbidelli took three victories that year, compared to Mir’s single victory at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in 2020.
However, since 2020, Morbidelli has struggled greatly to perform at the front of the field. Whilst teammate Fabio Quartararo won the 2021 MotoGP championship aboard the Yamaha, Morbidelli would struggle a lot more, finishing 17th in the championship, scoring just one podium.
Morbidelli would then move to Prima Pramac Ducati for the 2024 season after a difficult few years aboard the Yamaha. However, Morbidelli has managed a few Top 5 finishes, but currently hasn’t been able to achieve a podium. With many riders moving teams this season, Morbidelli’s seat was at risk, as many people even spoke about Morbidelli joining the World Superbike Championship. However, Morbidelli has finally found a lifeline MotoGP ride at VR46.
Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team have proven themselves as a genuine threat to the Factory Ducati team, with Marco Bezzecchi finishing third in the riders’ standings in the 2023 Championship. However, the Italian team have struggled a lot more in 2024, with Di Giannantonio sitting as the top rider at VR46 in the standings, albeit in eighth place.
With Di Giannantonio and Morbidelli occupying both seats at VR46, Fermin Aldeguer’s situation becomes unclear, with the Moto2 star signing a contract with Ducati, to have a place in MotoGP for 2025. However, with Pramac switching to Yamaha and most Ducati seats now occupied, Aldeguer is seemingly in a difficult situation in his attempt to join the MotoGP grid.
VR46 have secured themselves two competent riders in Morbidelli and Di Giannantonio, and two riders who may even be able to challenge for a few victories next year against the likes of Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia.
Featured Image: Prima Pramac Racing
