Pablo Nieto, the team principal of VR46 MotoGP, acknowledged that his team fell short compared to their Ducati satellite rivals, Gresini, and emphasized the need to compete for more significant achievements. In 2025, Valentino Rossi’s team had Ducati Factory backing with Fabio Di Giannantonio clinching a win on the GP25 model, following Pramac’s switch to Yamaha.
Despite this support, VR46 faced challenges with consistency throughout the 2025 season, as Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli (racing on the older GP24) only made the podium six times in 22 races. On the other hand, Gresini consistently vied for top positions, with Alex Marquez securing three GP24 victories and advancing to second in the championship standings, while rookie Fermin Aldeguer celebrated his maiden win in Indonesia.
Gresini outperformed VR46 by 188 points in the team rankings, and next season, Marquez will be equipped with a factory-spec bike. After Di Giannantonio’s podium finish in the final Valencia race, Nieto expressed disappointment over the inconsistency between his riders, especially during the 2025 race at Gresini.
He remarked, “Gresini had the same equipment as us, but they were quicker,” and stressed the need for improvement to surpass not only Gresini but also factory teams since that is their ultimate goal. Nieto added, “We need to figure out why after competing for podiums and wins, such as in Germany, it became difficult to finish in the top 10 in the following races.”
Consistency, he noted, is crucial as it makes the real difference by keeping the team competitive in every race. “Our aim is to maintain a steady presence in the top five, which is very challenging,” he said. Addressing problems quickly and preventing minor issues from escalating is essential, which he believes explains why some races yield podium finishes while others don’t.
Fan Take: This update highlights the fierce competition within satellite teams and underscores the significance of consistency in MotoGP success. For Racing fans, watching VR46’s battle to close the gap with Gresini and factory riders promises an intriguing storyline for the upcoming season and could lead to more thrilling races ahead.
