The Aruba.it Racing - Ducati team is pleased to announce the signing of Franco Morbidelli, who will race alongside Iker Lecuona in 2027, taking over the factory Ducati Panigale V4 R ridden this season by newly crowned Superbike World Champion Nicolò Bulega

Born in Rome on 4 December 1994, Franco Morbidelli developed as a rider within the VR46 Riders Academy. In 2013, he won the European Superstock 600 title in the Superbike paddock itself, and in 2017 he became Moto2 World Champion, the first Italian rider to win the title in the category. In 2018, he made his MotoGP debut on a Honda, earning the Rookie of the Year title; from 2019 he moved to Yamaha, with whom he claimed three wins and finished runner-up in the 2020 World Championship.

In 2024, he joined Ducati with the Prima Pramac Racing team and, since 2025, has raced with the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, still riding the Desmosedici GP machine.

Across 14 seasons in the MotoGP paddock, first in Moto2 and then in the premier class, he has contested 228 races, achieving 11 wins, 29 podiums and 8 pole positions.

Stefano Cecconi, Team Principal Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“We welcome Franco with great enthusiasm, certain that he will be able to give us much satisfaction. The 2027 season will bring several new developments and will be an important challenge for both the rider and the team, but setting ambitious goals is part of our DNA. Franco brings with him highly valuable experience, gained over many years in MotoGP with top teams: an important factor also in view of the arrival of the new tyres, which he knows very well and on which he will be able to provide us with precious feedback. Furthermore, although he is changing category, he will remain on a Ducati, which will guarantee continuity in his working method and technical approach. We can't wait to begin this new adventure and to share work and ambitions with Franco.”

Luigi Dall'Igna, Ducati Corse General Manager
“We are very happy to welcome Franco to the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati family. Franco is a very talented rider who, throughout his career, has shown speed, technical sensitivity and the ability to adapt at the highest levels of world motorcycle racing. After many years spent in MotoGP, he will bring to our Superbike project an extremely valuable wealth of experience. We are convinced his move will also be supported by his deep knowledge of the Ducati environment and our working methods, an aspect we consider particularly important given the new technical challenges awaiting us in 2027. Together with Aruba.it Racing, we have built a winning project over the years, and we believe Franco has all the qualities to help keep it at the top. We can't wait to start this new journey together.”

Franco Morbidelli
“I am very happy and excited about this new chapter in my career. I thank Ducati and Aruba for this opportunity. As always, I will do my best to live up to a team that has fought at the top for years and has just won the Superbike World Championship. I will do the best job possible to achieve great results together.”