MotoGP 2027 line-up update: VR46 Racing Team
Updated: Sep 9
As the teams continue to unveil their 2027 line-ups, Valentino Rossi’s team is next in line with two brand new riders.
Fabio Di Giannantonio to leave
After multiple memorable performances for the Italian team, Fabio Di Giannantonio will part ways with the Ducati satellite team. The Roman has managed to be the best Ducati rider for the first half of the current season and continues to be a championship contender for this remaining season.
His seat for 2027 has already been confirmed by the factory KTM Team, alongside Álex Márquez. Learn more about this in our MotoGP 2027 line-up update: KTM Factory Racing.
Fermín Aldeguer to join
A premier for the VR46 team, it has been announced that Spanish rider Fermín Aldeguer will join the team in the upcoming season on a two year contract. The 2025 rookie is one of MotoGP's most exciting prospects, managing to claim his maiden win in his first year racing in the premier class.
Aldeguer will join Rossi's team with full backing from Ducati Corse, meaning that he will race on the same bike model as the Ducati factory pair. The VR46 Team Director, Alessio Salucci, stated: "We look forward to welcome him in the team, where he will ride a Factory Desmosedici GP as he will be an official Ducati Corse rider. We will give him our maximum support possible to reach our goals."
Franco Morbidelli to leave
One of Rossi's Academy first success stories, Franco Morbidelli announced that he will no longer be a part of the VR46 Racing Team after the end of the season. He is rumoured to end his career in MotoGP to join WorldSBK, but nothing has been confirmed.
The Italian rider has had a rough time recently in the championship, but managed some good moments alongside the team over the past two seasons. Most notably, the sprint podium at Jerez this year after having started in P18 was a moment of hope for Morbidelli, who stated after the race: “And here we are. I’m really pleased. I thank everybody inside the team and I dedicate this podium to the people who are suffering.”
Nicolò Bulega to join
It has been confirmed that the Ducati Superbike rider and 2023 Supersport Champion, Nicolò Bulega, will join the VR46 Team for the upcoming season. He will stay with the team for two years after having been a Ducati test rider.
The VR46 Team Manager, Pablo Nieto, believes that Bulega's WorldSBK experience could help the team with the future regulation changes. He stated: "Next year the regulation will change, and we will all start from zero. For sure, his experience with the WorldSBK tyres and the test with the new Ducati Desmosedici GP as a Ducati test rider will help him adapting well to the new category and making this journey as easy as possible."
Bulega raced alongside the VR46 Racing Team in the past, first as a Moto3 wildcard entry and then as a Moto2 rider for a whole season.
In addition to their completed line-up, the VR46 Racing Team has confirmed that it will continue its partnership with Ducati, which started at the start of the 2025 season.
VR46 is gonna look very different in 2027. Hard to picture the team without both of these guys. @66ez