Valentino Rossi’s VR46 MotoGP team is set to become Yamaha’s official satellite team beginning in the 2025 season after signing a new deal.
According to reports, the Japanese manufacturer and Valentino Rossi’s VR46 MotoGP team have reached an agreement that the Japanese manufacturer will take in the team as its official satellite operation starting in 2025.
The agreement which covers the years 2025 and 2026 was apparently reached over the weekend of the Qatar Grand Prix, according to Austrian publication Speedweek.
Though there have been long-standing rumors of a possible partnership between VR46 and the manufacturer, the Italian team is currently a Ducati customer alongside Gresini, ranking below the factory team and primary satellite outfit Pramac.
VR46’s 2024 campaign has been previously linked to a Yamaha switch by FIM President Jorge Viegas, however team manager Alessio Salucci made it clear that the team would stick to its contract with Ducati until the end of the agreed timeframe.
The switch could have possibly been initiated due to the fact that Valentino Rossi and Yamaha have a close relationship. Seven-time premier class winner Rossi capped his career with the Japanese manufacturer, where he won four of his titles after he previously experienced a difficult time at Ducati.
VR46 is scheduled to acquire at least one factory-spec M1 machine from Yamaha as part of the agreement. The manufacturer is also eager to hire current Moto2 standout Fermin Aldeguer in order to strengthen the team’s talent.
The Spanish rider has been in talks with VR46 to take over Luca Marini’s seat, who has been picked as Marc Marquez’s replacement at the factory Honda team.
Additionally, Yamaha’s requirement for a second operation to share vital data is met by this partnership. Since the RNF team quit as a satellite squad last year, Yamaha has been without a satellite team to offer valuable feedback.
The announcement in 2018 that Tech 3 would be leaving the manufacturer to become KTM’s primary partner underscored their intent to strengthen its backing of MotoGP teams.
