VR46 to get factory support from 2025
Ducati Announces Factory Support for VR46 from MotoGP 2025 Season
Ducati has officially announced that VR46 Racing Team will replace Pramac as its primary satellite squad from the 2025 MotoGP season. The new multi-year agreement, initially set for two seasons, was revealed just ahead of the British Grand Prix, marking a significant shift in Ducati’s satellite team strategy.
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In recent years, Pramac had been the sole Ducati-supported team, but with Pramac's planned switch to Yamaha, Ducati sought to strengthen its partnership with Valentino Rossi's VR46 team. As part of the new agreement, VR46 will receive maximum technical and sporting support from Ducati, elevating its status within the Ducati MotoGP ecosystem.
However, unlike Pramac's previous arrangement, which included two factory bikes, VR46 will receive only one latest-spec GP25 motorcycle. This change means that Ducati will field three latest-spec bikes in the championship—one fewer than in previous seasons. The GP25 machines will be piloted by factory riders Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, with Fabio di Giannantonio expected to ride the third GP25 for VR46 under a direct contract with Ducati.
Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna expressed his excitement about the new partnership, stating, "From day one, the VR46 Racing Team has shown that it knows how to work in perfect harmony with Ducati, and in recent years, we have achieved great results. We are happy to be able to further strengthen this relationship by giving the team 'factory' support starting next season. I am sure that together we can achieve great things."
Uccio Salucci, Team Director of VR46 Racing Team, echoed these sentiments: “I couldn’t be more proud to announce that next year the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team will be the factory-supported Ducati team in MotoGP. It’s a truly significant moment for the whole team: achieving this result with such a young team, in just three years, is truly extraordinary.”
While VR46 has yet to confirm its full rider line-up for 2025, it is widely expected that Franco Morbidelli will move from Pramac to VR46, reuniting with his mentor and team owner, Valentino Rossi, alongside di Giannantonio. This new chapter in VR46’s journey highlights Ducati’s continued commitment to fostering competitive satellite teams and nurturing rising talent within MotoGP.