The MotoGP 2027 rider market is set for significant changes as VR46 faces the end of current contracts for both Fabio di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli, just as the series prepares for sweeping technical updates. Only three riders in the entire field have deals confirmed beyond the 2026 season, making the upcoming contract cycle particularly unpredictable.
Major MotoGP Technical Updates Set the Stage
For the 2027 season, MotoGP will experience its biggest rule overhaul in years. Engines will be downsized to 850cc, ride-height devices will be outlawed, and Pirelli will become the new exclusive tyre supplier, taking over from Michelin. These technical changes could have a direct impact on rider performance and team choices, influencing the strategies of teams like VR46 as they evaluate their future lineups.
VR46’s Lineup in Question for 2027
Both VR46 riders, Fabio di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli, are in the final year of their contracts. While di Giannantonio is contracted directly to Ducati and utilizes factory-spec equipment, Morbidelli’s agreement is with VR46 itself as an Academy rider. The pair delivered solid results in the 2025 MotoGP standings, finishing sixth and seventh respectively, amassing 13 combined podium finishes across the season.
Yet, the looming contract expirations mean VR46 must make key decisions in the tumultuous 2027 MotoGP rider market. Asked about the situation, team principal Pablo Nieto explained the team is already engaged in preliminary discussions for the next round of contracts.
“Yeah. Already started talking, always coming earlier and earlier. But I can understand because in ‘27, 90% of the riders are going to be free.
“From ‘25 to ‘26 is, let’s say, a little bit more boring! Nothing happens. But ‘26 to ‘27 is going to be a big change in MotoGP. So we have to be ready for everything.”
– Pablo Nieto, Team Principal
Future Aspirations and Big Names Linked to VR46
Recent history saw VR46 engage in exploratory discussions with Pedro Acosta early in the last season, though Acosta ultimately chose to stay with KTM for another year. Despite this, Nieto affirmed that interest in Acosta remains alive within VR46, and described the prospect of welcoming the Spanish star as a “dream.” Still, the team currently prioritizes giving its own riders the opportunity to secure their careers through competitive performances.
“We would like to try to keep the same riders, because in the end we want to give the opportunity [to get good results] to our riders,”
Nieto said.
“But you never know what happens. So we have to try to make our best, try to have the best riders. And we are focused on that.”
– Pablo Nieto, Team Principal
What Lies Ahead for VR46 and MotoGP
As the satellite teams like Ducati’s prepare to reveal new livery for 2026 and the MotoGP paddock braces for both technical and personnel shifts, the focus on the 2027 rider market will only intensify. For VR46, decisions made in the coming months could shape their competitiveness for years to follow, as the landscape of premier-class motorcycle racing undergoes a dramatic transformation in both technology and talent.
