MotoGP | VR46 wants to maintain its commitment to Ducati until 2026

Alessio Salucci is the leading figure in Valentino Rossi's structure. “Uccio” accompanied the multiple world champion throughout his career in MotoGP, later becoming his alter ego in the management that bears the name of the “Doctor”. The team debuted in the premier class in 2022, after reaching an agreement with Ducati which supplied a motorcycle with factory support first with Luca Marini and then with Marco Bezzecchi. Even then it was difficult to explain the link with the Borgo Panigale brand, given Rossi's close relationship with Yamaha, of which he continues to be an ambassador.

Three years later, Motorsport.com learns that VR46 has on the table the possibility of unilaterally renewing the contract with Ducati for another two years (2025 and 2026). By exercising this option, which expires at the end of May, the Tavullia team should be satisfied with the treatment currently received by Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio, who race with two Desmosedicis from the previous year.

Although they have also had contacts with KTM, the clearest alternative has always been Yamaha, for obvious reasons. This possibility, which was never discarded at any time, slowly lost strength as the weeks went by, to the point of thinking that everything seems ready for VR46 and Ducati to reconfirm their alliance with an extension that could also materialize this weekend, in Austin.

“Yamaha is my second home. However, to enter, it should offer us a more competitive bike. Ducati is a great bike and its performance is very high. We owe it to our partners. Change is not easy,” Salucci said in a telephone conversation with Motorsport.com.

If VR46 signed the renewal with the Bologna brand, the pressure would double in the Yamaha offices, which have been trying to sign a new customer for some time in order to have four M1s on the starting grid, instead of the current two. With the lack of competitiveness shown by the prototypes of the Iwata company, the argument that has the most weight to convince a hypothetical ally is of an economic nature.

However, the money seems not to be sufficiently attractive for a group that has enjoyed fighting for the podium regularly and has already added three victories to its list of winners. It is at this point that the “partners” make sense, i.e. the sponsors who, like Pertamina, have invested in the VR46 and who are very prominent in the sporting field.

Presentation VR46 Racing Team and its new patron Pertamina

Photo de: Media VR46

The ideal scenario that presents itself in Uccio's mind is one that would allow him to continue with Ducati, but having an official Desmosedici in 2025. However, this cannot happen mainly due to two obstacles. Firstly, because the Borgo Panigale manufacturer does not want to commit to putting more than four prototypes from the current year on the track: the two from the official garage and the two that Pramac currently manages. From this it follows that Paolo Campinoti's team receives exclusively and by contract the condition of support and coverage from Ducati (factory-supported team), a right that only Campinoti can renounce, and on a voluntary basis. This is not a logical scenario, if we think about the visibility that Pramac has, reigning team champion and vice-driver champion with Jorge Martin, current championship leader. Salucci, however, does not give up on his commitment: “Pramac is Ducati's reference satellite team. VR46 does not seek this status. What we want is to grow and have an official bike next year.”