MotoGP: VR46 Racing to become Ducati factory supported team in 2025

Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing will become an official factory supported Ducati team next season after signing a multi-year deal with the Italian manufacturer.

Valentino Rossi’s team take over from Prima Pramac Racing following that team’s decision to swap Ducati for Yamaha next season. That surprise move ended a partnership which began in 2005.

Unlike Pramac, VR46 Racing will only receive one 2025 factory bike, as well as one GP24 machine. The team will receive technical and sporting support from Ducati.

Following Marco Bezzecchi’s decision to join Aprilia next season, it’s likely that teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio will receive the brand-new GP25 with an official Ducati contract.

“I can only be proud to announce that from the next year the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team will be the Ducati Factory Supported Team in MotoGP,” Alessio Salucci, VR46 Racing Team Director, said. “We will be on track with an official bike and a GP24. If they had said it a few years ago, I wouldn’t have believed it.

“It’s a truly significant moment for the entire group: having achieved this result in just three years, with a young team, with so many guys with us from Moto3, is something extraordinary.

“I want to thank all the people who work in the Team, the partners, in particular Pertamina Lubricants, Ducati and Gigi Dall’Igna for having believed in this project and having today managed to enhance it as it deserves. We have demanding years ahead of us, full of challenges, but we can’t wait to test ourselves and try to achieve ambitious results.”

🤝🏻 We are happy to announce that the @VR46RacingTeam will become our factory-supported team in @MotoGP from 2025!#ForzaDucati pic.twitter.com/m9RpwXxSCe

— Ducati Corse (@ducaticorse) August 2, 2024

VR46 Racing have used Ducati power since moving into the premier class in 2022, following one campaign as a joint operation with Esponsorama Racing in 2021.

Bezzecchi was crowned 2022 Rookie of the Year and secured the team’s maiden victory in Argentina in 2022. The Italian won two further races that season and finished third overall in the championship.

Di Giannantonio secured his maiden MotoGP victory with the team in Qatar last season, whilst Marini also has two Grand Prix podiums to his name onboard the VR46 Ducati.

The announcement was made just before the opening MotoGP practice session of the weekend at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix.