The MotoGP community was rocked when Davide Tardozzi, head of the Ducati Lenovo Team, openly criticized the MotoGP VR46 riders’ performance, expressing strong dissatisfaction with their results as the season concluded. Tardozzi specifically targeted Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio, accusing them of not meeting the standards expected by both team leadership and fans, keeping the MotoGP VR46 riders performance in the spotlight as the new season approaches.
Assessment of Di Giannantonio and Morbidelli’s Results
Fabio Di Giannantonio, often referred to as Diggia, managed to finish on the podium nine times throughout the 2025 season, including Sprint races. Despite this apparent promise, inconsistency dogged his campaign, ultimately leading him to finish sixth in the overall championship, a result that failed to satisfy team expectations. Franco Morbidelli fared even worse in the statistics, reaching the podium only four times, and ending the season behind rookie Fermin Aldeguer, who took his first career victory in Indonesia. Morbidelli’s points tally left him a substantial 31 points adrift of Di Giannantonio, further fueling criticism from within the Ducati camp.
Tardozzi’s comments highlighted the gulf between the potential held by the VR46 riders and their real-world results, making it clear that the team’s patience with underperformance is wearing thin. As he put it,
“They did not give to the team what they deserve,”
said Tardozzi, Team Boss, Ducati Lenovo Team. His words underscored the opinion that the VR46 squad had strong support and infrastructure, yet their riders could not capitalize on these advantages.
VR46 Team Praised but Riders Faulted for Lack of Consistency
While he spared no criticism for the riders, Tardozzi expressed approval for the efforts of the VR46 team itself, emphasizing their strong contribution to Ducati’s racing ambitions.
“We are absolutely happy about the work of the team,”
said Tardozzi, Team Boss, Ducati Lenovo Team. However, his approval quickly gave way to renewed frustration as he pressed the issue of rider inconsistency:
“But for some reason, Franky and Diggia don’t perform in the proper way during the season. They have some up-and-down performances, and that doesn’t give to the team what they deserve, because the team was working very good,”
said Tardozzi, Team Boss, Ducati Lenovo Team.
This mixed assessment demonstrates the pressure faced by both Morbidelli and Di Giannantonio to match the commitment and proficiency their support crew brings to each race weekend. The VR46 squad, connected closely to Valentino Rossi’s racing legacy, is considered an essential satellite operation for Ducati, further heightening scrutiny of every result.
Stakes Rising for the VR46 Duo as 2026 Approaches
With the 2026 MotoGP season on the horizon, both Morbidelli and Di Giannantonio remain part of the VR46 Ducati outfit. However, both face uncertain futures, as their contracts are set to expire at the end of the coming season. Their performances in the upcoming championship will play a decisive role in determining whether they retain their coveted spots, or if Ducati turns elsewhere for talent.
Tardozzi’s critiques serve as a wake-up call to both established and emerging riders throughout the grid, serving notice that results are the ultimate currency in MotoGP. With competition intensifying and the spotlight shining brighter than ever on teams like VR46, the ability of their riders to respond to criticism and demonstrate resilience may shape the trajectory of the team—and even influence the larger MotoGP community—as the new season unfolds. All eyes, particularly of analysts and fans, remain fixed on the VR46 garage, eager to witness whether these riders can rise above the scrutiny and deliver the strong, consistent results expected by Ducati and the world.
