MotoGP career ends for Valentino Rossi’s first prodigy
Rossi is saying goodbye to the first member of his academy (Credit: Apex Agency)
13:42, 08 Sep
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Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
The longest-serving member of Valentino Rossi’s rider academy, Franco Morbidelli, will be leaving MotoGP at the end of the season.
His current team, VR46 Racing, announced the long-rumoured news on social media.
“Hard to fit years of memories into just a few slides,” they wrote on Instagram. “We gave it a try. Let’s smash these last races together.”
A further statement confirmed the end of their collaboration, which read: “At the end of this season, our journey with @frankymorbido will come to an end.
“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.”
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Morbidelli has been a member of the Rossi academy for 12 years(Credit: Apex Agency)
Valentino Rossi prodigy Bulega lined up as replacement
Morbidelli is understood to be making a straight swap with fellow Rossi prodigy Nicolo Bulega, who is expected to leave his WorldSBK championship-leading Ducati for MotoGP.
VR46’s summer of transfers started with the departure of two-time MotoGP race winner Fabio Di Giannantonio to KTM, and continued with Rookie of the Year Fermin Aldeguer signing from Gresini Racing.
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That move saw an Italian replaced with a Spaniard, and team bosses stressed the desire for another Italian, having filled both seats at the factory Ducati with Spanish riders in Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta.
Bulega can become WorldSBK champion in his home race next time out in Italy, having won an astonishing 24 out of 27 races this season.
Morbidelli fought for the MotoGP crown in 2020 on a Yamaha (Credit: Apex Agency)
Morbidelli became one of Rossi academy's first success stories
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Like Morbidelli, he was one of Rossi’s first signings when his academy was founded in 2014.
Morbidelli skipped Moto3 altogether and won the 2017 Moto2 World Championship, becoming the first Italian champion in Grand Prix motorcycle racing since mentor Rossi in 2009.
He moved up to MotoGP the following season, and in 2020 finished runner-up in the premier class to Joan Mir.
Struggles for pace have followed since, highlighted by 2026 teammate Di Giannantonio winning a race and regularly scoring podiums.
The 31-year-old is currently 16th in the 2026 standings and admitted he couldn’t get to grips with his bike after the Czech Grand Prix.
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The pace of Di Giannantonio left Morbidelli fighting for his future (Credit: Apex Agency)
MotoGP struggles leave Morbidelli fighting for performance
"I didn't have any performance at all,” he said. “I didn't have any grip at all. I've been struggling a lot with grip since the beginning of the year.
“Nothing seems to change. I don't know, maybe I forgot how to ride a MotoGP bike."
He added: "In Barcelona, I was on the front row. Then at Mugello, I had an unbelievable pace. A really good pace throughout Friday, throughout Saturday... until the races. Maybe when the races come, I forget how to ride the MotoGP bike."
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Asked about possibly leaving the sport, he added: "Listen, I live with pressure. I've been racing since I was seven.
"I've been dealing with pressure all my life. I've been dealing with the pressure of winning a world championship. I'm not afraid of going home if I'm not worth it.
"I'm not here to warm up my seat and get my pay cheque. I'm here to perform, to win, to do the maximum that I can.
"At the moment, it's not coming. Even though the team, the crew, myself, we are doing the maximum. We are giving our soul."
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Friday 11.09.26
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Friday 11.09.26
Practice 1
Fri 11:30 AM
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Qualification
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