Five Contenders to Replace Marco Bezzecchi at VR46 Ducati After Aprilia Move

Five potential candidates could step in for Marco Bezzecchi at VR46 Ducati. Bezzecchi's recent move to Aprilia has created an opportunity for another rider to take over the GP24 Ducati.

Marco Bezzecchi has been confirmed as a new rider for Aprilia in the 2025 MotoGP season, joining forces with Jorge Martin.

Bezzecchi's departure from the Pertamine Enduro VR46 team signifies a significant shift, as the Noale-based manufacturer has successfully lured two top-tier riders away from Ducati to fill the spots of Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales.

Although Bezzecchi has succeeded in becoming a factory rider, it has created an opportunity for another individual to ride a GP24 bike next season.

Who might take Bezzecchi's place?

Franco Morbidelli

As Pramac's future remains uncertain, Morbidelli stands out as the clear candidate to join VR46. Without him, the VR46 team would lack an academy rider if they fail to sign the Italian.

Should Pramac remain partnered with Ducati, transitioning to VR46 would effectively be a step down, since Morbidelli would be riding a bike that's a year old.

Turning down an offer from Valentino Rossi's team is a difficult decision for many riders, particularly those who belong to the VR46 academy.

Celestino Vietti

Despite his performance not being up to the mark for a MotoGP promotion, Vietti continues to be an interesting candidate.

The Italian rider has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to secure victories in Moto2 and possesses the skill to compete effectively in MotoGP.

At just 22 years old, Vietti still has the potential to join MotoGP in the future, even though he isn't competing for the Moto2 championship this season.

Similar to Morbidelli, Vietti is a member of the VR46 academy. Consequently, having at least one of their positions occupied by a VR46 rider would be the optimal result.

Fermin Aldeguer

Similar to Morbidelli, Aldeguer's positioning will be influenced by the developments at Pramac.

The young rider from Spain is contracted with Ducati until the end of 2026, and there's an additional option to extend the deal for another two years.

This allows Ducati to position Aldeguer in any team it prefers, but Pramac would be the most logical choice.

Should Yamaha manage to form a partnership with Pramac, it might pave the way for Rossi’s team to consider bringing Aldeguer on board.

Jack Miller

Jack Miller is set to depart from KTM when this season concludes, as both he and Augusto Fernandez have been replaced by Vinales and Enea Bastianini.

It seems improbable that he will go back to Honda, making Ducati the leading contender to secure the Australian's contract.

Italian sources indicate that Gresini is likely to secure Miller's contract, but with Bezzecchi confirmed to join Aprilia, VR46 might make a last-minute bid.

Miller has achieved significant success with Ducati bikes, and despite Rossi’s team usually opting for younger riders, bringing in someone with Miller’s experience could be beneficial.

Raul Fernandez

A young rider who is beginning to demonstrate his potential in MotoGP is Raul Fernandez.

Should Fernandez be ousted from his position at Trackhouse Racing, his opportunities elsewhere will be quite scarce.

One potential candidate might be the VR46 team. They have demonstrated, through their signing of Fabio Di Giannantonio, that they are open to recruiting riders from outside the VR46 academy if the individual’s skill and achievements align with the team's goals.

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