VR46 Racing Team riders Fabio di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli unveiled a striking new livery in New York City ahead of this weekend’s Americas MotoGP at COTA.
The dramatic reveal took place on the Edge Skydeck in Hudson Yards, one of the city’s most iconic skyscrapers, transforming a moment of pure adrenaline into a spectacle that blends American bravado with Italian flair.
Riders Di Giannantonio and Morbidelli stood proudly alongside the eye-catching design, which pays homage to the United States through a vibrant Pop Art style crafted by legendary designer Aldo Drudi, featuring symbolic elements like the stars and stripes of the national flag and a stylized rendition of the Austin Tower at the Circuit of the Americas.
Drudi, whose portfolio includes some of the most memorable designs in motorsport history, infused the Pop Art livery with layers of meaning: the flag’s stars represent the team’s rising aspirations, while the stripes mimic the speed lines of a bike hurtling down COTA’s infamous uphill esses.
Riders’ leathers, too, mirror the bike’s palette, with perforated panels for ventilation and reinforced zones for the crashes inevitable in such a demanding circuit.
This isn’t just paint on a bike; it’s a cultural fusion designed to ignite passion among American fans as the team prepares for the high-stakes showdown in Austin this weekend, fresh off di Giannantonio’s pole position and podium finish in Brazil.
The special Americas MotoGP livery marks a departure from VR46‘s signature fluorescent yellow and black “Black and Light” base livery unveiled earlier in Rome for the 2026 season, proving the team’s knack for tailoring their look to resonate with local audiences.
VR46 Racing Team, founded by nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi, has long been synonymous with flair and fearlessness, entering its fifth year as a Ducati satellite squad in the premier class.
Fabio di Giannantonio enters this weekend’s third round holding fourth in the world championship standings as the leading Ducati rider, while Franco Morbidelli is currently tenth with a best race finish of eighth.
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