VR46 breaks silence and confirms two-year deal with Aldeguer in MotoGP

Key takeaways

• Two-year deal signed: VR46 has officially signed Fermín Aldeguer for the 2027 and 2028 MotoGP seasons.
• Factory Ducati status: Starting in 2027, Aldeguer becomes an official Ducati Corse factory rider, securing current-spec machinery for the new 850cc technical regulation era.
• VR46 lineup rebuild: With Fabio Di Giannantonio heading to KTM, VR46 is undergoing a major team overhaul, with World Superbike contender Nicolò Bulega rumored for the second seat.

The MotoGP rider market experienced another major shift on Wednesday (26). Following Tech3’s confirmation of Luca Marini’s arrival for 2027, VR46 Racing Team finalized another key piece of the grid by announcing a two-year deal with Fermín Aldeguer.

The announcement reinforces Aldeguer’s long-term partnership with Ducati. After making his premier class debut in 2025 with Gresini Racing on a initial two-year deal, the 21-year-old Spaniard now transitions to Valentino Rossi’s outfit as an official Ducati Corse factory-contracted driver, guaranteeing him current-specification factory equipment for the debut of the 850cc regulations in 2027.

“I am very happy to take this step in my career,” Aldeguer stated. “Signing with VR46, Valentino’s team, is incredible because he has always been one of my idols. Having him in the team will help me evolve as a rider, not to mention that VR46 has full factory support from Ducati.”

“With the new regulations arriving in 2027, my goal will be to adapt to the new tires and the new bike. Having a factory Ducati will be a massive help for development throughout the season. I want to thank Gresini Racing and Nadia Padovani for helping me grow in this category,” he added.

Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna praised Aldeguer’s progression and highlighted the long-term vision behind the contract extension:

“We are delighted to announce the renewal of our agreement with Fermín for the next two seasons,” Dall’Igna celebrated. “Since arriving in MotoGP, he has shown extraordinary talent and determination. He is still very young with immense potential, which is why we decided to invest further in him.”

“We believe VR46 represents the ideal environment for Aldeguer to continue evolving. The team has proven over the years that it knows how to extract the best from young talents,” Dall’Igna concluded.

VR46 Team Director Alessio ‘Uccio’ Salucci and Team Manager Pablo Nieto both welcomed the signing, highlighting that Aldeguer will receive complete technical and operational support. VR46 has yet to confirm its second rider, though a complete lineup reset is expected following Fabio Di Giannantonio’s signed deal with KTM. World Superbike star Nicolò Bulega remains the leading candidate to fill the second VR46 seat.

The announcement comes alongside other major motorsport news, including Marc Márquez revealing his daily physical limits from his shoulder injury and Cal Crutchlow praising Fabio Quartararo’s upcoming move to Honda. Meanwhile, Jorge Martín prepares for his Aprilia debut at Aragon.

MotoGP returns to action from August 28–30 for the Aragon Grand Prix, the 13th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO provides complete live coverage of all sessions across every class. Follow all updates on our news page.

MotoGP 2026: World Championship Standings (Top 5 after Austrian GP)

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. Which team will Fermín Aldeguer race for in the 2027 MotoGP season?

Fermín Aldeguer will race for VR46 Racing Team on a two-year contract as an officially contracted factory Ducati rider.

2. What bike specification will Aldeguer receive at VR46 in 2027?

Aldeguer will receive a full factory-specification Ducati machine as MotoGP transitions to its new 850cc technical regulations.

3. When is the next race on the 2026 MotoGP calendar?

MotoGP returns from August 28–30, 2026, for the Aragon Grand Prix at MotorLand Aragón.