A new chapter in Franco Morbidelli's MotoGP career is about to close. VR46 has officially announced that the Italian rider will leave the team at the end of this season, paving the way for Nicolo Bulega's MotoGP arrival in 2027.
Morbidelli's departure from VR46 has been an open secret in recent weeks. Speculation intensified after Bulega, who is on his way to winning the WorldSBK title with Aruba.it Ducati, was linked to the seat. Now, clarity has arrived: Morbidelli will move to the factory Ducati team, while Bulega takes over his place at VR46.
Morbidelli's journey in the premier class began in 2018 after winning the Moto2 title the previous year. Over eight seasons, he has ridden for various teams, including Marc VDS Honda, Petronas Yamaha, Monster Yamaha, Pramac Ducati, and VR46 Ducati since the start of last year. At each team, he left his own mark.
The peak of his career came in 2020 when he impressed with Petronas Yamaha. Three grand prix victories were achieved, making him runner-up in the final standings behind Joan Mir. Unfortunately, he then endured a three-year podium drought, including during his time as a factory Yamaha rider. It wasn't until the 2024 Misano Sprint, while riding for Pramac, that he returned to the podium.
Last season, Morbidelli finally joined Valentino Rossi's team. He showed promising form with three early podiums. However, this season everything changed dramatically. He sits 16th in the standings, a far cry from expectations.
VR46 confirmed Morbidelli's departure via a social media post. "At the end of this season, our journey with Franky will come to an end," the team wrote. "There have been podiums, battles and plenty of moments to celebrate, but what we’ll take with us goes far beyond the track. Glad we got to share this journey with you, Franky."
As the first member of the VR46 Riders Academy, Morbidelli is a symbol of the academy's golden generation. He became the first world champion from that academy, as well as the first MotoGP race winner. Now, with one chapter closing, a new one with factory Ducati awaits. Will he rediscover his best form?
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