Valentino Rossi sets winning target as VR46 unveil new black livery for 2026 MotoGP season
Photo: Race Pictures
Andrew McLarneyMotoGP Reporter
Andrew McLarney is an accredited MotoGP reporter with four years experience as a professional writer across the sports and video game industries. His experience as a K1 Premier League competitor evolved into a fascination with all forms of combat sport and eventually motorsport — with MotoGP becoming his primary focus. On top of that he is also an avid follower of MXGP and AMA Supercross/Motocross.
Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team recently unveiled their new “black and light” livery at a team launch event in Rome and the nine-time world champion was there in attendance.
Taking to the stage alongside the 2026 rider lineup of Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio, Rossi took questions about his ambitions for the team and his impressions on the new livery for the bike.
When asked by the event’s host, Desiree Popper, what the objective for the team was this season, Rossi responded in the following way:
“For us it’s the fifth season in MotoGP,” said Rossi, “in our history we were always quite competitive from the beginning. Last year we finished third in the team ranking. The target for sure is to try to improve and to raise our level.”
“We had a lot of good results, a lot of podiums,” he continued. “First of all we want to win. We want to try to win a race because when you win it’s always different. It's better than a podium.”
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Rossi was also keen to joke about the team's new, darker colour scheme. "I have to say that the most happy guys of the new livery are the mechanics because last year with the white bikes they spend a lot of time."
He said, mimicking a cleaning gesture, "White is more elegant, but black is more racing, so we hope that they will be faster than last year."
Credit: Red Bull Content Pool
The infamous fluorescent yellow colour donned by the team is a homage to the legendary team boss, who now races in GT cars after trading in two wheels for four.
The previous season, Morbidelli and Di Giannantonio scored two and four Grand Prix podiums respectively. The best result was the latter rider's second-place finish at Phillip Island.
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