The Pertamina Enduro VR46 team has revealed its new livery for the 2026 MotoGP season, which will be showcased by riders Fabio di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli. The design, unveiled in Rome, maintains the team’s trademark fluorescent yellow but replaces the former white background with a combination described as “Black and Light.”
Team owner Valentino Rossi explained the shift in colour scheme, aiming for a more aggressive look this year while keeping the iconic yellow. The update is intended to reflect a blend of racing spirit and practicality for the team’s mechanics.
Valentino Rossi Explains the Team’s Colour Choice
Rossi stated,
“This is the third season that we use a lot of yellow, our colour, In the last two years, we put the yellow with white. But for this year, we wanted something different, a bit more aggressive.”
He also highlighted the benefit of removing white from the design, noting,
“The mechanics will be the happiest guys, because with the white, they spent a lot of time cleaning! White is more elegant, but black is more racing, so we hope they will be faster than last year.”
Team Performance and Ducati Partnership Update
Entering its fifth season in the top MotoGP class, VR46 continues its partnership with Ducati as a factory-backed team, a position acquired after Pramac switched to Yamaha. Despite riding the latest Ducati Desmosedici model, Fabio di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli were the only Ducati riders last year who did not secure race victories.
The team’s last MotoGP wins remain those achieved by Marco Bezzecchi in 2023. However, di Giannantonio had a strong season, finishing sixth overall – his career-best and the fourth highest-placed Ducati rider – with four podium finishes and five Sprint race appearances on the podium.
Morbidelli, a former Petronas Yamaha title runner-up, earned four podiums despite his first year at VR46 being interrupted by injuries sustained at Sachsenring and Valencia.
Rider Contracts and Machinery for 2026
For the upcoming season, di Giannantonio will continue with factory-spec Ducati machinery, while Morbidelli remains on a one-year-old satellite bike. VR46 reportedly declined an additional factory bike option, which then went to Gresini’s Alex Marquez, the previous season’s title runner-up.
Both VR46 riders currently have contracts that expire at the end of 2026, leaving their future with the team open.
Upcoming Team Colour Launches
Meanwhile, Marco Bezzecchi, a former VR46 rider, and his factory Aprilia teammate Jorge Martin are set to reveal their 2026 MotoGP colours shortly, with an official unveiling scheduled for the following day.
