– Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team received an inquiry from Aprilia during the past MotoGP winter break as to whether they wanted to become the manufacturer’s new satellite team based in Noale for the start of the upcoming 850cc era (from 2027). However, the team from Tavullia is on the verge of a multi-year extension of its existing contract with Ducati.
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VR46 has been a Ducati customer team since its MotoGP entry (2022), and it was not least the dominance of the Desmosedici that enabled the team to take several victories. Starting with the 2024 season, the collaboration with the factory in Borgo Panigale was intensified. Since then, VR46 has received a current factory bike every year. This has been ridden by Fabio Di Giannantonio since 2024.
Because the current contract between VR46 and Ducati expires at the end of 2026, there has been speculation in recent months about the future of this collaboration.
VR46 has been linked with a move to Yamaha, as team owner Rossi maintains close ties with the Japanese manufacturer in his role as a Yamaha brand ambassador. In addition, VR46 team boss Alessio “Uccio” Salucci now reveals that Aprilia has held exploratory talks for a partnership from 2027.
“We talked a bit with Aprilia because Aprilia wanted to talk to us and we are gentlemen,” says Salucci in an exclusive interview for Motorsport.com, a sister platform of Motorsport-Total.com in the Motorsport Network.
“I’ve known Massimo Rivola for many, many years. When Valentino Rossi did Formula 1 tests for Ferrari in 2004, 22 years ago, Massimo Rivola was the one in charge. I know Massimo, he’s a really good guy and a very good manager. We’ve talked a few times, two or three times. Why not? But I never thought about leaving Ducati,” says Salucci.
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In the period from 2022 to 2024, Ducati provided eight bikes on the MotoGP grid, but since the Pramac team’s move to Yamaha (2025), Ducati has only two satellite teams in addition to its own factory team. Salucci suggests that VR46 is currently in the final stages of contract negotiations with Ducati and the new contract is expected to be signed in the coming weeks.
Motorsport.com assumes that the new Ducati contract for VR46 will have a term of three years, covering the 2027, 2028, and 2029 MotoGP seasons. “We are close to signing. There are only a few details left to clarify. I think next month [there could be an announcement]. We are close to renewing with Ducati,” said the VR46 team boss.
Asked if he was happy with the way the connection between VR46 and Ducati was going, Salucci replied: “Definitely. It’s the best bike in the world.”
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While the new technical MotoGP regulations, which will take effect from 2027, dominate the headlines, teams and manufacturers are working on a new commercial agreement with MotoGP Sports Entertainment (formerly Dorna), which will also come into force next year. As long as this agreement is not yet finalized, teams are unlikely to officially announce their rider line-ups or manufacturer partnerships for 2027.
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