Valentino Rossi's MotoGP team faces a challenging journey ahead, as team boss Pablo Nieto acknowledges the need for significant improvement. The VR46 squad, once backed by Ducati factory support, now faces a formidable opponent in Gresini, a Ducati satellite team. Despite receiving factory support, VR46 struggled for consistency in 2025, with riders Di Giannantonio and Morbidelli securing only six podiums across 22 rounds. In contrast, Gresini's Alex Marquez dominated, winning three grands prix and finishing second in the standings, while rookie Fermin Aldeguer claimed a maiden victory in Indonesia. The final teams' standings revealed a 188-point gap between Gresini and VR46. Looking ahead, Gresini will have a factory-spec bike for Alex Marquez in the upcoming season. Nieto, reflecting on the season, expressed disappointment over the team's lack of consistency, especially against Gresini. He emphasized the importance of improvement, stating, 'We have to beat them, beat the factory team from time to time too, because that's our goal, to fight for something that matters.' Nieto also highlighted the need to understand the team's inconsistent performance, aiming to be more consistent and consistently in the top five. He stressed the importance of not amplifying problems, as small issues can escalate. Nieto believes this is the key to their success, acknowledging the team's current challenges and the need for a strategic approach to overcome them.
