The future ‘line-up’ of the VR46 team
In 2027 the VR46 team will field a completely revised line-up compared to this season: after the agreement reached with Fermin Aldeguer, Valentino Rossi’s team, according to Sky Sport, is close to announcing the signing of a two-year contract with Nicolò Bulega, absolute dominator of the Superbike World Championship. This means that, in 2027, VR46 will no longer have Fabio Di Giannantonio, who will continue with KTM, and especially Franco Morbidelli. But what will be the future of the latter in MotoGP?
The opportunity in SBK
Star of a disappointing championship, the stay in the premier class of the Italo-Brazilian seems very difficult, but this does not mean that his career will end in 2027, on the contrary. According to rumors provided in this case by Speedweek, the 2017 Moto2 world champion seems close to a real swap with Bulega: while the latter will take the big step into MotoGP, ‘Morbido’ will take the official Ducati seat in Superbike.
In this way, even if there is no official confirmation yet, the 2020 vice-world champion would join Aruba.it – Ducati Iker Lecuona, who has instead renewed his contract with the Borgo Panigale team until 2028. Should Morbidelli actually move to Superbike from next season, it would not be a unique transition from MotoGP to the production-based motorcycle championship for 2027.
Read more 2027 driver market: almost the entire starting grid complete
Next year, Brad Binder will leave KTM to join BMW, replacing Danilo Petrucci in this case and joining the Portuguese Miguel Oliveira, also ready to continue with the Bavarian manufacturer. Finally, it remains to be seen what the ‘tomorrow’ will be for other MotoGP riders who have not yet signed a contract renewal with their teams, starting with Alex Rins, who aims to continue his career precisely in SBK.
