VR46 confirms the departure
Franco Morbidelli will leave the VR46 Racing Team and MotoGP entirely at the end of the 2026 season, the team has confirmed, closing out a nine-year run in the championship. VR46's own statement kept it simple: "At the end of this season, our journey with Franco Morbidelli will come to an end. There have been podiums, battles and plenty of moments to celebrate, but what we'll take with us goes far beyond the track."
A career that peaked early
Morbidelli's best season came early and hasn't been matched since: in 2020, riding for Petronas Yamaha, he won three grands prix and finished runner-up in the world championship. What followed was a three-year podium drought that ran through his entire stint on a factory Yamaha, before he found some form again after joining VR46 in 2025, picking up three podiums early in that campaign. He heads into the Misano weekend 16th in the standings on a satellite-spec GP25, a long way from that 2020 high point.
One last home race at Misano
Misano carries real weight for Morbidelli specifically: it's where he took his first-ever MotoGP win back in 2020, during that same runner-up season, and where he returned to the podium as recently as 2024. As an official VR46 Riders Academy product — its first world champion-level performer and first race winner — his final home Grand Prix in Italy in VR46 colours closes a loop that started with the academy itself.
What's next for both riders
Morbidelli moves to the factory Aruba.it Ducati squad in World Superbike for 2027. Back at VR46, his seat is taken by Nicolò Bulega, which puts an Italian rider on a factory Desmosedici through MotoGP's new 850cc, Pirelli-tyred era beginning in 2027 — a fitting continuation for an academy built specifically to develop Italian talent. See our complete guide to MotoGP for how the championship itself works.
Frequently asked questions
Is Franco Morbidelli leaving MotoGP?
Yes — VR46 has confirmed his departure at the end of the 2026 season, ending a nine-year MotoGP career. He moves to the factory Aruba.it Ducati team in World Superbike for 2027.
What was Franco Morbidelli's best MotoGP season?
2020, riding for Petronas Yamaha — he won three grands prix and finished runner-up in the world championship. He hasn't matched that level since.
Why is Misano significant for Morbidelli's farewell?
It's the track where he won his first MotoGP race in 2020 and returned to the podium in 2024, making his final home Italian Grand Prix in VR46 colours a fitting send-off.
Who replaces Franco Morbidelli at VR46?
Nicolò Bulega takes his seat for 2027, putting an Italian rider on a factory Ducati as MotoGP enters its new 850cc, Pirelli-tyred regulation era.
Pippa has followed open-wheel racing for 12 years, from Formula 1's turbo-hybrid era to IndyCar's short ovals, and has watched competitive sim racing grow from a niche hobby into a genuine motorsport discipline in its own right. She covers circuit and open-wheel racing, touring cars and esports for CNMOTOS.
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