VR46 Reveals Special Livery for Indonesian GP

The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team will look very different this weekend in Lombok. The squad has unveiled a special one-off paint scheme for the Indonesian Grand Prix. This fresh design honours the home race of its title sponsor.

In motorsport, a livery simply means the paint scheme and sponsor logos on a vehicle. Round 17 of the 2026 MotoGP season takes place this weekend. For this event, VR46 riders Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli will race with bodywork inspired by the mythical Garuda bird. The creature is an important national symbol in Indonesia.

The pictures in this article are AI illustrations, not photos of the real bikes. To see the actual Garuda livery, take a look at the team’s own photos.

Why is the team running a special design in Lombok?

The race takes place at the Pertamina Mandalika Circuit. This is the main home event for the team’s key backer, the Indonesian state energy company Pertamina. In top-level motorcycle racing, teams often tweak their colours for a single weekend. They do this to celebrate major milestones or the home race of an important sponsor.

The special design centres on the Garuda, an eagle-like mythical bird that serves as the national emblem of Indonesia. The artwork covers the bike’s aerodynamic fairings. Fairings are the outer shell of plastic and carbon fibre that wraps around the frame to reduce wind drag. If you want to know more, our guide explains how fairings and winglets work to keep high-speed machines stable.

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Who will be racing the Garuda colours this weekend?

Two Italian riders will race the special bikes: Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli. VR46 is an independent team. Instead of building bikes from scratch, it leases modern machinery from Italian maker Ducati. Independent squads are often called satellite teams. They race alongside the main factory squads and add extra depth to the grid. You can learn more in our look at factory versus independent teams.

Di Giannantonio arrives in Lombok sitting sixth in the overall riders’ championship with 230 points. The Italian wants to bounce back after a tough weekend in Japan. He bruised his ribs in a first-lap crash during the Saturday sprint race there. On Sunday at Motegi, he finished outside the points in 18th place. Since then, he has worked hard to recover his fitness for this weekend’s sessions.

His teammate Morbidelli will ride the second decorated machine. He is a former premier-class runner-up who collected a point for 15th place in Japan. The squad hopes the boost of a supportive local crowd will help both riders score strong results.

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What makes the Indonesian Grand Prix special?

Motorcycle racing has a massive following in Southeast Asia. In fact, Indonesia is home to one of the sport’s biggest audiences in the world. Millions of local residents ride scooters and small motorbikes every day. Because motorbikes are so popular, fans across the country show huge enthusiasm for MotoGP.

The Pertamina Mandalika Circuit sits along the southern coastline of Lombok island. It is a fast track with sweeping turns and high heat. Scorching track temperatures and coastal humidity test rider fitness and tyre life to the limit. New viewers can explore the circuit layout and local atmosphere in our beginner’s guide to the Indonesian GP.

Racing in special colours before a dedicated home crowd gives the VR46 crew a real boost. It also adds plenty of excitement as the 2026 championship enters its final six rounds.

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Quick Takeaways

• Special tribute: The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team has revealed a unique livery featuring the Indonesian Garuda bird for Round 17 in Lombok.
• Sponsor showcase: The design celebrates title sponsor Pertamina at its home Grand Prix.
• Rider roster: Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli will both race the celebratory colours on their Ducati machinery.
• Championship hunt: Di Giannantonio arrives sixth in the world championship standings. He aims to bounce back after carrying a rib injury through the previous round in Japan.