As the 2025 MotoGP season approaches, the focus is on Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team, which is stepping into a new era as Ducati’s official satellite team. Following a significant upgrade in its status, the team is facing a season of high expectations and ambitious goals. Rossi, a nine-time world champion, has laid out the targets for VR46, and they’re aiming for nothing less than success on the track.

Having taken over from Pramac as Ducati’s official satellite team, VR46 enters 2025 with a fresh set of challenges and opportunities. Last season was a tough one for the team, with Marco Bezzecchi’s three wins in 2023 falling to just a single podium finish in 2024. Bezzecchi’s performance, while still strong, saw him end the season 12th in the standings, finishing as the lowest-ranked Ducati rider. His teammate, Fabio di Giannantonio, also struggled with injuries, missing several rounds after shoulder surgery but still managed to secure 10th place in the standings.

Despite the difficulties, VR46’s new status within the Ducati family means di Giannantonio will now have access to the same factory-spec Desmosedici GP25 bike as the official Ducati Lenovo riders, Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez. Joining him in 2025 will be Franco Morbidelli, a veteran rider who moves over from Pramac to take Bezzecchi’s seat. Morbidelli will race on a GP24, which brings fresh hope to the team.

The expectations for the VR46 squad in the upcoming season are undeniably high. Rossi, ever the optimist and passionate team leader, spoke candidly about his goals for 2025. He pointed to Ducati’s incredible competitiveness in recent seasons as the foundation for the team’s ambitions.

“The expectations for the team in the 2025 season are very high because we are the second team of Ducati and the Ducati in recent seasons are very competitive and very strong,” said Rossi. “So we hope that we can fight for some podiums, win some races if it’s possible, and try to arrive in the top positions in the championship, I want to say the top five.”

For a team that has risen to prominence in recent years, fighting for podiums and wins may be just the start. With both di Giannantonio and Morbidelli now firmly in the fold, Rossi’s hopes for success are clearly defined.

Both di Giannantonio and Morbidelli come with strong credentials. Di Giannantonio, who raced for Gresini Ducati in 2023, is a proven MotoGP race winner, having secured his first victory with the team. Morbidelli, another race winner, is a former Moto2 world champion and was a title runner-up in MotoGP in 2020. Rossi is confident in both riders’ abilities, with each one having a unique contribution to the team.

Morbidelli’s arrival is particularly significant for Rossi, as Franco is the first official member of the VR46 Academy to race for the VR46 team. “To have Franco finally in the team is very special for us because Franco is an Academy rider and we’ve always stayed together for all of his career and tried to help him,” said Rossi. “So to have him in the team is like closing a circle and we hope we can be strong.”

Meanwhile, di Giannantonio’s arrival marks a shift, as he is the first rider in VR46’s history not to come from Rossi’s Academy. However, Rossi still has high hopes for Diggia, particularly after his promising start with the team in 2024.

“His expectations are very high because he’s demonstrated he’s very fast with the Ducati,” Rossi said. “He knows the bike and also the team, because he was already with us in 2024 where he demonstrated a lot of potential, a lot of speed. On a lot of occasions, he was a little bit unlucky so we hope this year we can achieve more podiums, victories, and better results.”

For the 2025 season, the VR46 team will race in a bold, new livery, incorporating elements of Rossi’s iconic style. The team’s bikes will feature their distinctive fluorescent yellow and white design, along with personal touches that pay homage to Rossi’s legendary career. Sun and moon stencils, alongside the number 46, will now adorn the bikes, symbolizing the connection between Rossi’s legacy and his team’s future.

“I’m very happy with the new livery,” Rossi shared. “We followed the concept of last year with Aldo Drudi, my historic designer, and the bike with fluorescent yellow is very much ‘our’ bike. And now with the sun and moon and 46, it’s even more special.”

The new livery and design are not just aesthetic; they represent a deeper connection to the past and the future of the team. For Rossi, it’s about continuing to honor his legacy while building for the next chapter.

The VR46 team officially unveiled its 2025 machines and livery during a launch event in Jakarta, Indonesia, which is home to their title sponsor, Pertamina. Rossi was proud to present the new chapter of the team’s journey in front of passionate fans in a country with a growing MotoGP fan base.

“Pertamina is our sponsor, it’s very good to make this project together. I think we are the national Indonesian team!” Rossi said with a smile. “It’s great to make the presentation there because Indonesia has a lot of MotoGP fans, and fans of our team.”

The VR46 team’s 2025 journey will officially kick off with the Sepang test from February 5-7, where both di Giannantonio and Morbidelli will put their new bikes through their paces. As the season begins, all eyes will be on Rossi’s team to see if they can live up to the lofty expectations and challenge the established powers in MotoGP.

With new riders, new bikes, and a fresh sense of purpose, VR46 is poised for a thrilling season in MotoGP 2025, and fans worldwide will be watching closely to see if Rossi’s ambitious vision for the team becomes a reality.