Morbidelli signs with VR46 Racing Team for 2025
Franco Morbidelli has defied predictions that this season of MotoGP could be his last after securing a ride with the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team for 2025. The deal will see the 29-year-old extend his time in the premier class to eight seasons and his time on a Ducati Desmosedici to two.
It’ll also be a homecoming of sorts, as Morbidelli was the first rider to come out of Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Riders Academy in Tavullia. As such, he has a close connection to both Rossi and Alessio ‘Uccio’ Salucci, a director at the VR46 Racing Team since 2015.
“I am very happy to announce that I have signed with the VR46 Racing Team for the 2025 season,” Morbidelli said. “I will definitely feel at home here. I really want to do well and repay, with good results, this trust both for myself and for all the crew.
“A heartfelt thanks to the entire VR46 Riders Academy and to my management. Vale, Carlo, Uccio, Albi and Gianluca - friends, but also key figures in VR46. I can't wait to start this new adventure together.”
Alessio Salucci responded: "We have known [Franco] for years, we have seen him grow in Tavullia and today, with great satisfaction, we can say that he will join the crew starting from next season. He is a rider of great talent.
“We can't wait to welcome him and let him enjoy the family and home atmosphere that distinguishes us. He will continue to race with a Ducati and we are sure he will be able to fight with the group of the strongest guys.
“I thank Ducati for the support both in human and technical terms and all our partners, Pertamina Lubricants among all, who support this incredible project”.
Securing Morbidelli and retaining Fabio Di Giannantonio for 2025 means Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team will continue to run an all-Italian squad – on Italian machinery - next year, despite the departure of Marco Bezzecchi for Aprilia.
As previously reported, VR46 will be Ducati’s official “Factory Supported Team” in 2025, meaning they will have access to the same machinery as the factory team. However, only Di Giannantonio will receive the Desmosedici GP25 next season, with Morbidelli to run a year-old GP24. Morbidelli is also on a one-year deal, while Di Giannantonio re-signed for two.
As a junior rider, Morbidelli (the son of former 80cc and 125cc GP racer Livio Morbidelli) lacked the financial backing to compete at grand prix level. Instead, he raced in the European Superstock 600 Championship. Winning that championship in 2013 attracted the attention of Moto2 teams, leading to a handful of wildcard entries that year before he joined Moto2 full time, aged 19, in 2014.
Morbidelli’s time in the Moto2 class culminated with him winning the world championship in 2017. That saw him move up to MotoGP with Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (Honda) in 2018, then joining the new Petronas Yamaha SRT satellite team, alongside Fabio Quartararo, a year later.
In almost three seasons with Petronas Yamaha SRT, Morbidelli achieved his first MotoGP podium and first win; the former at the Czech GP and the latter at the San Marino GP in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Morbidelli also finished runner-up in the championship that year – his best result to date.
Replacing Maverick Vinales at Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP in the latter part of 2021, Morbidelli remained with the factory Yamaha team for 2022 and 2023 before making the move to Prima Pramac Racing and Ducati machinery this year.
At time of writing, Morbidelli’s best result on the Pramac Desmosedici GP23 has been third in the sprint at the San Marino GP, with a best grand prix finish of fifth at the German GP.
