VR46’s New Contender: Exploring the Top Five Candidates to Fill Bezzecchi’s Ducati Seat

Five potential candidates to take over Marco Bezzecchi's spot at VR46 Ducati

Following Marco Bezzecchi's move to Aprilia, there’s now an opportunity for a new rider to take on the GP24 Ducati.

Marco Bezzecchi has formally signed with Aprilia to compete in the 2025 MotoGP season, teaming up with Jorge Martin.

Bezzecchi's departure from the Pertamina Enduro VR46 squad has led to the Noale-based company weakening Ducati. This was achieved by securing two of the top riders on the circuit to fill the spots left by Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales.

However, as Bezzecchi has reached his ambition of securing a position as a factory rider, this has paved the way for another individual to take the opportunity to ride a GP24 machine in the upcoming season.

Who might step in as Bezzecchi's replacement?

Franco Morbidelli

As Pramac's direction remains uncertain, Morbidelli stands out as the clear candidate to transition since VR46 faces the prospect of lacking an academy rider should they fail to retain the Italian.

Should Pramac continue their partnership with Ducati, transitioning to VR46 could be seen as a step down for Morbidelli, since he would end up on a bike from the previous year.

Turning down an offer from Valentino Rossi's squad could be a difficult decision for numerous racers, particularly for those who are members of the VR46 academy.

Celestino Vietti

Despite his current performance not being strong enough for a MotoGP advancement, Vietti continues to be a fascinating choice.

The Italian rider has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to secure victories in Moto2 and possesses the skillset necessary to be a strong contender in MotoGP.

At just 22 years old, Vietti retains the potential for a MotoGP career, even though he hasn't been in contention for a Moto2 championship this year.

Similar to Morbidelli, Vietti is a member of the VR46 academy, thus securing a spot for a VR46 rider would be the preferred result.

Just like Morbidelli, Aldeguer's position on the grid will be influenced by the developments at Pramac.

The youthful Spanish rider is bound by an agreement with Ducati until the conclusion of 2026, which includes an additional option for two more years beyond that.

This implies that Ducati has the flexibility to assign Aldeguer to any team of its choosing, with Pramac being the most logical choice.

Should Yamaha's efforts to collaborate with Pramac prove fruitful, it may pave the way for Rossi's squad to consider bringing Aldeguer on board.

Jack Miller is set to depart from KTM following this season, as he and Augusto Fernandez make way for Vinales and Enea Bastianini to join the team.

It appears improbable that a comeback to Honda will occur, positioning Ducati as the leading contender to secure the Australian's signature.

Italian media outlets are indicating that Gresini is likely to secure Miller's signature, however, with Bezzecchi confirming his switch to Aprilia, VR46 might make a last-minute bid.

Miller has achieved significant success on Ducati bikes, and while Rossi's team usually opts for younger riders, bringing on board someone with Miller's expertise could prove to be a wise decision.

Raul Fernandez is a young competitor who is beginning to demonstrate his potential in the MotoGP circuit.

Should Fernandez part ways with Trackhouse Racing, his alternatives will be notably scarce.

The VR46 team has demonstrated through their acquisition of Fabio Di Giannantonio that they are open to enlisting riders not from their own VR46 academy, provided those individuals possess the skill and performance achievements that align with the team's goals.

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