Franco Morbidelli's MotoGP future appears to be coming to an end. Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali has openly stated that the Italian rider will "most probably" race for the Aruba.it Racing Ducati team in WorldSBK in 2027. Domenicali made these remarks after Race 2 of the WorldSBK round at Cremona Circuit last weekend.
Morbidelli himself has already given a strong hint about his future. He was present at Cremona to watch Nicolo Bulega being crowned WorldSBK champion for 2026. In an interview with the world feed broadcast, Morbidelli said that WorldSBK would be his new "world" in 2027. Although he did not mention the team's name, long-standing rumors point to Aruba.it Racing Ducati.
Domenicali added to the unofficial confirmation. "2027 will be restarting from zero, will be different rules and even it could be much tougher," he told WorldSBK.com. "Let's enjoy now 2026. We still have some races to do. In 2027 we will see again Ducati on the grid with Superbike. We will have Iker [Lecuona], we have Morbidelli most probably – still to be decided the final details but most probably will be like this – and so we are happy also about what we start for next year."
Aruba.it Racing Ducati team manager Serafino Foti also gave a hint about the timing of the official announcement. Speaking to WorldSBK.com on Sunday, Foti said that the second rider announcement could be expected "next week", meaning the week starting 28 September. "At the moment we have Iker [Lecuona]," Foti said. "I want to congratulate also Iker because he did a really amazing weekend, he won three races, so we have for the future a really fast rider. For the second rider, as soon as possible, probably next week, we inform you about the second rider."
Morbidelli's move to WorldSBK would mark a new chapter in his career. After enduring difficult seasons in MotoGP, including stints with Yamaha and Ducati, he will be seeking a new challenge in the production-based series. Ducati itself is preparing for a major regulatory change in 2027, which Domenicali said could make the competition even tougher. With the impressive Lecuona and the experienced Morbidelli, Ducati seems to be aiming to rebuild their strength in WorldSBK.
For MotoGP fans, Morbidelli's departure will certainly leave an impression. The Rome-born rider showed promising performances early in his career but has yet to consistently challenge at the front. In WorldSBK, he will get a chance to shine again and possibly fight for the title. Meanwhile, Ducati will also have to consider their MotoGP rider lineup for 2027, which could be a big question mark.
With Domenicali and Foti's statements, speculation about Morbidelli's future is almost at an end. The official announcement is just a matter of time, and if it happens, WorldSBK 2027 will be even more exciting with a rider of Morbidelli's caliber. Ducati, which has dominated WorldSBK in recent years, seems determined not to lose momentum despite the regulatory changes.
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