Valentino Rossi’s dedication to the VR46 MotoGP team has been under scrutiny at times. The Italian’s attention has been split between the project and his own car racing ambitions.
Rossi spent last year competing in the World Endurance Championship, and during that time, he was largely absent from both the team’s 2025 launch and most of their races.
Since their debut in the premier class in 2022, VR46 have picked up three race wins and 18 podiums. However, they went without a victory last season despite having a competitive Ducati machine at their disposal.
There are reports that Liberty Media are hoping to see Rossi become more visible within the team due to his significant marketing appeal. But with retirement already behind him, there are also questions about whether he might step away from MotoGP completely.
VR46 seen as ‘most at risk’ of sale among teams
One journalist has suggested that Rossi may feel his job is ‘done’ with the VR46 Academy. He brought two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia into MotoGP, while Marco Bezzecchi has also flourished at Aprilia.
Rossi continues to work with young riders, but The Race’s Simon Patterson believes he’s more open to selling the team than any other owner in the paddock. The grid slots could change hands for 2027.
Patterson feels such a move would be damaging for Franco Morbidelli’s MotoGP future, as some believe his connection with Rossi is what’s keeping him in the championship.
Patterson said: “I think it’s worth saying that VR46 is, for me, the most vulnerable team on the grid to not exist in ’27, under its current format.
“Should there be new ownership – they are the team that is most open to that right now – then there’s no world in which Franco Morbidelli remains, probably on the MotoGP grid as a whole.”
Even if Rossi holds onto ownership of the team, there could still be significant changes ahead of next season. VR46 are currently negotiating with Aprilia as their Ducati satellite contract nears its end.
VR46 stance gives Max Verstappen a perfect opportunity to buy a MotoGP team
Since Liberty’s acquisition of MotoGP, there has been a significant uptick in interest from investors. Given how the company’s involvement boosted F1 team values, there’s an expectation that the same could happen in MotoGP.
Guenther Steiner, the former Haas F1 boss, has already moved into the series by purchasing Tech3, although he’s kept their original branding in place.
Last year also brought reports that Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were both looking into buying a team. It wasn’t just talk – they’ve been speaking with existing outfits like Gresini, Trackhouse and LCR.
But compared to those options, VR46 seems like it could be more open to change. That possibility might appeal to someone like Verstappen.
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