VR46 Eye Franco Morbidelli for 2024: Shifting MotoGP Landscape Could Reunite Old Friends

VR46 reveals the reality behind speculated interest in Franco Morbidelli

Shifting dynamics may bring Franco Morbidelli back together with former colleagues

The VR46 team has acknowledged that they want to sign Franco Morbidelli for the next season.

The Pramac team’s choice to leave Ducati and join Yamaha as a satellite team next year will result in a fresh lineup of riders.

Jorge Martin was always expected to leave and is now set to join Aprilia. Meanwhile, it's improbable that Morbidelli will return to Yamaha, the team that let him go a year earlier.

The open position in Valentino Rossi's VR46 MotoGP team seems like a clear destination for Morbidelli.

Team manager Uccio Salucci expressed his enthusiasm to Motorsport, saying, "I truly wish for this! I have great affection for him and would be thrilled to collaborate. This has been my sentiment for quite some time."

"Perhaps next year is when it will actually happen."

"Certainly, we'd consider promoting another individual from the Academy, but it's a bit premature since there are numerous aspects to align. I'd be eager to do it, but let's hold off for a few more weeks."

Morbidelli is an alumnus of the VR46 Academy, and next year, Rossi's team won't have any riders from his academy under contract.

Marco Bezzecchi is set to depart for Aprilia, trailing Luca Marini who exited to Repsol Honda a year before.

Fabio di Giannantonio is anticipated to remain with the team and may gain an advantage by utilizing a Ducati with factory specifications.

The VR46 team is presently using bikes that are a year old, but with Pramac's departure, they will benefit by upgrading to a GP25.

Ducati intends to provide just one GP25 bike to a team other than their own factory squad, which means that Di Giannantonio's yet-to-be-named teammate will have to use a model that is a year older.

This season, Morbidelli is racing the GP24 for Pramac. If he switches to VR46, he will be riding the same model bike next year.

Morbidelli’s debut season riding a Ducati was disrupted by an injury he suffered during a pre-season testing session.

Although it took him a while to reach his peak performance, his fifth-place finish in the latest race in Germany showcased his talent.

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