VR46 unveils US GP livery in New York as Di Giannantonio brings form to Austin

VR46 in New York

Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Workforce has rolled out a particular United States Grand Prix look in New York forward of this weekend’s MotoGP spherical at Circuit of The Americas, however the extra related story for Austin is the distinction in kind between its two riders throughout the opening rounds of 2026. MotoGP heads to COTA on March 27-29 after the season’s opening visits to Thailand and Brazil.

Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli introduced the bike at The Edge above Hudson Yards.

Fabio Di Giannantonio arrives in Texas carrying the stronger momentum. After ending sixth within the season opener in Thailand, the Italian then put collectively VR46’s greatest weekend to this point in Brazil, claiming pole place, ending second within the Dash and taking third in Sunday’s Grand Prix. It was the kind of sequence that underlined each his consolation on the present Ducati bundle and his standing because the rider presently doing the heavy lifting contained in the Tavullia squad.

Fabio Di Giannantonio had an incredible weekend final trip in Brazil

Franco Morbidelli’s begin has been far more modest. Morbidelli picked up eighth place in Thailand, however Brazil didn’t convey the identical upward pattern, with the Italian-Brazilian ending twelfth within the Grand Prix. There have been flashes of tempo, however heading to Austin, he wants a cleaner weekend and a stronger qualifying platform if he’s to match Di Giannantonio extra constantly on the opposite facet of the storage.

VR46 rider standing behind the special-livery Ducati MotoGP bike at a New York rooftop launch event. — Franco Morbidelli stands with the particular COTA livery bike through the New York reveal staged above the Manhattan skyline.

That’s the aggressive backdrop to a launch the crew staged in a single day in New York, the place VR46 unveiled a one-off American livery it is going to use for Sunday’s race at COTA. In keeping with the crew, it marks the primary time a MotoGP machine has been unveiled in New York, with Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli presenting the bike at The Edge at Hudson Yards.

VR46 unveiled a one-off American livery it is going to use for Sunday’s race at COTA.

The design itself leans right into a pop-art theme and was created by Aldo Drudi of Drudi Efficiency. Fluoro yellow stays the dominant color, whereas the art work folds in visible references to the crew’s story, Valentino Rossi, Alessio Salucci and symbols tied to the American spherical, together with the US flag and Austin’s remark tower.

Side view of the VR46 Ducati MotoGP bike in special COTA livery with New York skyline in the background. — VR46 United States GP livery combines neon highlights, comic-style graphics and a New York skyline backdrop forward of Austin.

It’s also greater than a bike-only train. The identical graphics will carry over to the riders’ leathers for the weekend, whereas the crew has additionally produced matching attire primarily based on the COTA idea.

The two VR46 riders pose with the squad’s special United States GP livery after its unveiling in New York. — Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli introduced the COTA livery at The Edge above Hudson Yards.

For VR46, the livery offers the Austin spherical a transparent visible hook. For Di Giannantonio, it additionally arrives at a helpful time, with real early-season momentum now on his facet. For Morbidelli, COTA shapes as an opportunity to show a measured begin into one thing extra substantial.

Pertamina Enduro VR46 Ducati MotoGP bike in special pop-art COTA livery on a rooftop observation deck in New York with Manhattan skyline behind. — VR46 particular COTA livery pictured above Manhattan and the Hudson River throughout its New York unveiling.

So whereas the New York backdrop delivered the spectacle, the aggressive image is simple sufficient heading into Texas. VR46 already is aware of one facet of the storage is able to troubling the entrance group. The following step is getting each bikes there on the identical weekend.

Front three-quarter close-up of the number 49 VR46 MotoGP Ducati in special New York launch livery with bright fluorescent col — VR46 Ducati reveals the brilliant pop-art therapy that can be used for the USA Grand Prix at COTA.

2026 MotoGP Championship Standings


Pos	Rider	Bike	Factors
1	M. Bezzecchi	Apr	56
2	J. Martin	Apr	45
3	P. Acosta	KTM	42
4	F. Di Giannantonio	Duc	37
5	M. Marquez	Duc	34
6	A. Ogura	Apr	33
7	R. Fernandez	Apr	29
8	A. Marquez	Duc	13
9	B. Binder	KTM	13
10	F. Morbidelli	Duc	12
11	J. Zarco	Hon	12
12	L. Marini	Hon	11
13	F. Bagnaia	Duc	10
14	F. Aldeguer	Duc	8
15	D. Moreira	Hon	6
16	F. Quartararo	Yam	6
17	E. Bastianini	KTM	5
18	A. Rins	Yam	3
19	J. Mir	Hon	3
20	M. Viñales	KTM	0
21	T. Razgatlioglu	Yam	0
22	J. Miller	Yam	0
23	M. Pirro	–	0

2026 MotoGP Calendar


Rnd	Date	Occasion	Circuit
1	01 Mar	Thai	Chang Worldwide Circuit
2	22 Mar	Brazil*	Autodromo Internacional Ayrton Senna
3	29 Mar	US	Circuit of the Americas
4	26 Apr	Spain**	Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto
5	10 Could	France	Le Mans
6	17 Could	Catalonia	Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
7	31 Could	Italy	Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello
8	07 Jun	Hungary	Balaton Park Circuit
9	21 Jun	Czech	Automotodrom Brno
10	28 Jun	Netherlands	TT Circuit Assen
11	12 Jul	Germany	Sachsenring
12	09 Aug	GB	Silverstone Circuit
13	30 Aug	Aragon	MotorLand Aragon
14	13 Sep	San Marino	Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
15	20 Sep	Austria	Crimson Bull Ring-Spielberg
16	04 Oct	Japan	Mobility Resort Motegi
17	11 Oct	Indonesia	Pertamina Mandalika Worldwide Circuit
18	25 Oct	Australia	Phillip Island
19	01 Nov	Malaysia	Petronas Sepang Worldwide Circuit
20	08 Nov	Qatar	Lusail Worldwide Circuit
21	22 Nov	Portugal	Autodromo Internacional do Algarve
22	29 Nov	Valencia	Circuit Ricardo Tormo