VR46 Racing team boss Alesso Salucci has revealed it is his preference to re-negotiate a fresh motorcycle supply deal with Ducati rather than make the much rumoured switch to Yamaha power for 2025.

The Italian outfit - borne from Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Academy empire - made its MotoGP debut in 2022 by taking over the entry previously held by Avintia Racing  in the wake of ‘the Doctor’ himself retiring from two-wheel competition at the end of 2021.

As part of the agreement to take over the Spanish outfit, VR46 Racing continued its deal to use Ducati machinery in a deal that will end with the 2024 MotoGP season.

From here, VR46 Racing are free to negotiate with other firms, leading to speculation it could switch to Yamaha allegiance on the back of Rossi’s close association with the brand from his time competing in MotoGP.

It’s a rumour not without merit even without taking Rossi’s close ties in account. The Iwata marque has been without a satellite team for two seasons now following the surprise defection of the erstwhile RNF Racing team to Aprilia, with bosses going on record to state they are keen to get another team on its books to assist with development.

A move to Yamaha would shift VR46 Racing up the manufacturer hierarchy too with access to current-spec machinery, whereas at Ducati it has to make do with year-old bikes.

However, Yamaha has struggled for form in the past 12 months and was the only manufacturer not to win a race in 2023. By contrast, VR46 Racing mounted a run at the title in 2023 with Marco Bezzecchi scoring three wins en-route to third in the overall standings.

As such, it is the preference of VR46 Racing’s day-to-day bosses to agree a new deal with Ducati, one it wants to get signed before the opening round of the season in Qatar on March 8-10.

“We already the option with Ducati for 2025 and 2026 and now in this moment it is very important to try and understand what happens, but my direction is, it is good to go with Ducati. 

“My dream is to sign the contract before Qatar, before I want to prepare this year without [distractions], so to sign now with Ducati it is better.”

Though VR46 Racing is its preference, Yamaha may still forge ahead with plans to get another satellite team on the grid for 2025 with the likes of Leopard Racing or its own separate Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Moto2 team - also made up of Avintia Racing and Sky VR46 Racing team members - a possibility.