VR46 UNVEILS GARUDA-INSPIRED LIVERY FOR INDONESIAN GP

Valentino Rossi’s VR46 MotoGP team has revealed a special livery for the Indonesian Grand Prix, drawing on the country’s national symbol and colours. The race weekend at Mandalika is the 17th round of the 2026 campaign. Pertamina Enduro, an Indonesian company, has been the team’s title partner since 2024.

Ahead of the event, VR46 representatives visited the Jakarta headquarters of Pertamina Lubricants, a sponsor of both the Grand Prix and the team. Fabio Di Giannantonio, team director Alessio “Uccio” Salucci and manager Pablo Nieto attended the visit, where Di Giannantonio presented the design to company employees.

Created by Aldo Drudi and Drudi Performance, the striking scheme covers the Ducati Desmosedici GP in red, white and gold. Gold flames run across the fire-red bike, while the riders’ leathers use the same colours. The team’s fluorescent yellow also appears at the front. At the centre of the concept is the Garuda, a mythical bird associated with Hindu and Buddhist traditions and the mount of the god Vishnu. It later became part of Indonesian tradition and the national emblem, Garuda Pancasila, whose motto is “Bhinneka Tunggal” — Unity in Diversity.

In a team statement, VR46 said the Garuda represents “high fighting spirit and courage,” qualities it shares with the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team. The bird is depicted with its wings spread across both sides of the Ducati and its head resting on the fuel tank. White provides the background, red represents the Garuda, and gold flames complete the design. The team described the livery as a tribute to Indonesia and its national symbol.

VR46 arrives after a difficult Japanese Grand Prix. Franco Morbidelli finished 15th, almost 35 seconds behind the winner, while Di Giannantonio was 18th after struggling with problems on his Ducati. With six rounds left, Di Giannantonio is 103 points off the championship lead. The Indonesian race is also set to be the final one for the team’s current rider pairing: Di Giannantonio will join KTM’s factory squad next season, while Morbidelli is moving to Ducati in World Superbike.