Valentino Rossi's VR46 MotoGP team is one of just four squads in the premier class that still has a rider line-up opening for 2026.
But is the one-year deal Franco Morbidelli was announced on really a 'prove-it' contract? And how do fellow VR46 Academy member Celestino Vietti and rumoured person of interest Pedro Acosta fit into the picture?
Rossi's right-hand man Uccio Salucci, who is effectively the team boss of the MotoGP operation, spoke to the media on Tuesday to shine a light on VR46's medium- and long-term rider plans.
Morbidelli move a multi-year project
Morbidelli is coming off an inconclusive year at Pramac Ducati, where he never quite gained enough momentum after a head injury sustained in training compromised the start of his season.
But while that means it's been more than three years since the 2020 runner-up has strung together a truly sustained run of strong form in MotoGP, there is no indication from Salucci that Morbidelli is under immediate pressure to justify his place in the premier class.
"For me, Franco is not just for one year," Salucci said when asked by The Race about Morbidelli's deal being announced as just for 2025.
"His contract is very clear - for sure he has the possibility to go in a factory team in 2026, for sure he's free [to do so]. Because this is our mentality, the mentality from the Academy, from our team. If our rider has some possibility to go in the factory team, he's free.
"But in my head, with Franco, we start the project now in 2025 and I hope he remains in our team for many-many years, some years."
In fact, Salucci said the plan was actually to - if Morbidelli hits the ground running - secure him a factory-spec Ducati again as early as 2026, although that seems complicated considering Ducati has scaled down its roster of works-spec bikes for financial reasons and might not be minded next year to offer a GP26 to a rider who isn't contracted directly to Ducati.
In other words, with Marc Marquez, Pecco Bagnaia and VR46's own Fabio Di Giannantonio contractually guaranteed GP26s in 2026, if there was another available the Ducati-contracted Fermin Aldeguer at Gresini would surely be prioritised.
"My idea is to have a very good 2025 to have a factory bike for him in 2026," said Salucci of Morbidelli. "With Franco it's a project. It's not just for one year. The last three years were not easy for him for sure. The last three - two [at Yamaha] and also last year. And for that we want that Franco comes back at the top. "He's from the Academy, I know him for many-many years, our objective is to keep him in 2026 [with a bike upgrade]."
As for how Morbidelli should regain his form, Salucci said he would benefit from the "family" atmosphere of VR46 and reckoned "he needs something in his riding style, something to modify" - which he believes VR46 rider coach Idalio Gavira is already helping Morbidelli do.
"It's the right team, in this moment, for Franco. And we'll give, for sure, 100 percent."
Vietti's MotoGP prospects
With Bagnaia, Morbidelli, Marco Bezzecchi and Luca Marini all in MotoGP, 23-year-old Vietti is both first in line and effectively the only one in line for any openings VR46 might have for its homegrown talent.
But while he's long reached a solid level in Moto2, he hasn't yet had a season that established him as a consistent frontrunner and has had his Moto2 trajectory broken up by injuries.
"Now for Celestino to speak about MotoGP is too early," said Salucci when asked by The Race.
"Because the last two seasons he's had a lot of problems, a lot of crashes, a lot of pain, especially last year. I wanted Celestino - me personally - in Academy, 10 years ago. I know he's a very good rider. But now it's too early to think about MotoGP."
This season Vietti is switching from a Kalex chassis to a Boscoscuro, replacing the MotoGP-signed Aldeguer in Boscoscuro's works team Speed Up."Make a very good season this year with Boscoscuro, and after for sure we'll see. But now we need Celestino to focus on Moto2."
What about Acosta?
Salucci laughed when asked about the report that his friend and boss Rossi sounded out Acosta over a potential MotoGP future together during this year's 100km race at Rossi's Ranch. Acosta is under contract at KTM through 2025 and 2026, but KTM's current insolvency has cast doubt on every facet of its motorsport department and particularly its pricey MotoGP programme.
"First of all, I am sorry about the story about KTM," Salucci said. "We have a very good relationship with KTM, we started our relationship in 2014 in Moto3 with [KTM racing boss] Pit Beirer and all the board, and all the management of KTM.
"And I don't like this story. But unfortunately it's like this."
Salucci then addressed the idea of Acosta as a VR46 rider - dismissing it as a present topic but seemingly stopping short of a full-on denial of interest.
"And the second note is- ha, Acosta, you know, he's a fantastic rider, now maybe he's the best talent in MotoGP. "You know... but now it's too early to speak about that. Sincerely, I never spoke seriously about Acosta in our team."
