Here’s a bold statement: even after a lackluster 2025 season, Ducati is standing firmly behind Valentino Rossi’s VR46 MotoGP team. But here’s where it gets controversial—why would Ducati double down on a team that failed to secure a single race win last year? Let’s dive in.
MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi brought his VR46 team to the grid in 2022, shortly after hanging up his racing boots. Partnering with Ducati, the team quickly made waves in its second year, with Marco Bezzecchi clinching victories. However, the momentum stalled after the 2023 Indian Grand Prix, leaving fans and critics alike scratching their heads. Despite this, Ducati awarded VR46 factory support for 2025, equipping Fabio Di Giannantonio with the GP25 bike. Yet, the results were underwhelming—Di Giannantonio managed only four podiums, while Franco Morbidelli secured two third-place finishes on the GP24. VR46 became the only Ducati team to end 2025 winless, a stark contrast to Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia’s 13 combined wins on the GP25, and Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer’s four victories on the GP24.
In a candid interview with Sky Italy, team boss Pablo Nieto admitted, ‘We have to improve.’ He emphasized the need for VR46 to ‘fight for something that matters,’ a sentiment that resonates deeply with fans who’ve watched the team’s struggles. Yet, Ducati boss Davide Tardozzi remains unwavering in his support. ‘We are happy with the team’s work,’ he told the official MotoGP website. ‘They are important to us and have demonstrated their professionalism.’ But here’s the part most people miss—Tardozzi hinted that the riders’ inconsistent performances didn’t reflect the team’s hard work. ‘For some reason, Franky and DiGia didn’t perform well during the season,’ he noted, leaving room for speculation about the team’s future lineup.
Meanwhile, Alex Marquez’s stellar 2025 season with Gresini, where he finished as championship runner-up, earned him a GP26 for next year. However, his contract with Gresini contrasts with Di Giannantonio’s direct Ducati deal at VR46. By season’s end, Di Giannantonio was sixth in the standings, a staggering 262 points behind Marc Marquez, while Morbidelli trailed his teammate by 31 points in seventh place.
So, here’s the burning question: Is Ducati’s loyalty to VR46 justified, or is it time for a shake-up? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s sure to spark differing opinions!
