Uccio Salucci has confirmed that all but one VR46 driver will be dropped before 2027.

MorbidlyMeanwhile, he joined VR46 in 2025. MotoGP season Directly to the established group by contract Valentino Rossi. VR46 gave Morbidelli a second one-year contract last September to continue riding year-old Desmosedici in the final season of the 1,000cc class.

VR46 are now considering their options ahead of the 850cc regulations era. It has been said in the past Rossi relishes the idea of ​​signing VR46 Pedro Acosta.But the KTM ace is expected to join Ducati in 2027. Gresini ace Fermin Aldeguer has recently popped up on VR46’s radar as well.

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Uccio Salucci said VR46 will need ‘one experienced’ and ‘one young’ driver in 2027

VR46 identified Aldeguer as a potential target for 2027.as a group director Salucci Next year he wants to register one young and one experienced driver. He also stated that VR46 will soon begin to study their plans, and first decided the gap after the Qatar Grand Prix.

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Stating that VR46’s plan is to sign a young rider alongside an experienced driver, Salucci confirmed that the team is considering replacing at least one of Di Giannantonio and Morbidelli at the end of the contract. By the end of 2026, the couple will be 28 and 31.

“One experienced and one young (rider), (that’s) my idea,” said Salucci Motorsport.com. But I don’t know, it’s a work in progress now, it’s very difficult (to make a decision).

“First of all, now I want to push a lot with our riders, with Di Giannantonio and Morbidelli. We will start thinking about this next month.”

I have some names (for 2027) but after the Qatar race (in April) I want to start thinking about the riders well next year. I want to focus on my two riders before, because they are fantastic.

MotoGP will not run the Qatar GP in April due to the situation in the Middle East, the race has now been extended until November. The 2026 calendar now features a four-week break between March 29 and the Spanish GP on April 26.

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Salucci has not closed the door on VR46 by re-signing Di Giannantonio, who turns 28 in October, and Morbidelli, who turns 31 in December. But if the Italians are to secure new deals, he wants to see them consistently fighting for a top-five finish throughout the 2026 season.

“They fought all the races in the first five places. Yes, always in front,” Salucci said when Di Giannantonio and Morbidelli were pressed on what to do to secure new contracts in 2026.

Giannantonio has only managed seven top-five finishes in the 22 Grands Prix of the 2025 season, including four podium finishes. Morbidelli, meanwhile, secured 9 top-five finishes in GP24 to finish seventh in the standings.

Neither VR46 rider started the 2026 season with a top-five finish at the Thai Grand Prix, with Di Giannantonio securing P6 in a Ducati GP26 and Morbidelli P8 in a GP25. But Di Giannantonio was Ducati’s top rider, following the retirement of career star Marc Marquez.