VR46 are still prioritising a long-term stay a𝓰t Ducati, Pablo ꦕNieto says.

Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP team will see tℱheir current contract as a 🎀Ducati satellite team conclude after the 2024 season although they retain an option to automatically extend their stay until the end of 2026.

But Yamaha - due to their personal links with Rossi, who is currently their brand 🀅ambassador - and KTM have been linked ౠwith bringing VR46 into their stables.

“It’s 🎃true that our contract ends at the end of this season,” team manager Nieto explained🍸.

“But💦 we have the option to continue for two more years with them.

“We are happy, now, with Ducati. This is clear.

“But, also, it’s true that the other manufacturers are looking💝 for us.

“Thi🗹s is good for us because ওit means we are doing a very good job.

“When some manufact🔜urers come to us and ask if we’re able or interested to change, it means we are doing good work.

“But at the moment? 🀅Our idea 𝕴is to continue with Ducati.”

VR46’s Uc𓄧cio Salucci had previously said: “My direction is to conꦦtinue with Ducati.

“My dream is to sign the contract before Qatar because Iಌ want to stay quiet, I want to prepare this year very good.”

The 2024 MotoGP season begins in✅ Qatar on March 8.

VR46 hope to again fight at the front with Marco B𒁃ezzecchi - last year’s breakthrou🥂gh star - and Fabio di Giannantonio, their new recruit who shone in the final rounds of 2023.

“Last year we had almost the perfect season. We were fighting for the championship,” 🌄Ni🍎eto said.

“We have to be ♎very happy. But that’s d🤡one. We have to think about this year.

“It’s important to see the differe♔nces between the ‘22 and ‘23 bikes.

“It’s true that the difference, we though꧂t, was not so much💖.

“But it’s quite big.𝓰 But the potential is bigger than ♏last year.

“It’s th💛e bike of the w♓orld champion, from Pecco. It’s a good step for us.”

Di Giannantonio, after learning that he would lose his Gresini spot to Marc Marquez, strung together a p✅odium in Australia and a stunning victory i♒n Qatar.

It𒁃 earned him a swi🌳tch to VR46 to replace Luca Marini.

“We saw the potential that he has, at th🌊e end of laꦓst season,” Nieto said about Di Giannantonio.

“It’s the first time we are working together. We have to know ea🐽ch other.

“It’s really important to🀅 get a relationship with his chief mechanic, and all of the team.

“But,💧 the bike, he knows already. So this is important.”