VR46 unveil 2019 livery on X-Factor

For the third year in succession, Valentino Rossi's VR46 team used a live TV appearance on the Italian version of X-Factor to unveil next season's Moto3 and Moto2 racing livery.

The latest colours now include a grey seat area and chrome blue lines.

After winning its first world title, in the Moto2 class, with Francesco Bagnaia, VR46 has promoted Nicolo Bulega from Moto3 to replace MotoGP-bound 'Pecco', while debut 2018 race winner Luca Marini becomes unofficial Moto2 team leader.

"It will be a special year: in Moto2, with the new engines, everything will change," said Marini, who took five podiums in the final ten races and is currently recovering from shoulder surgery.

"After the surgery to the shoulder in November, I started the recovery process, but every day the feeling is better and the goal is to recover at 100% for the start of the season. With Pecco we did a great job, we grew up as a Team, but also with Nicolò we can do something important."

Bulega hasn't been on the grand prix podium since his rookie debut 2016 season, but the bigger Moto2 Kalex should be better suited to his size.

"The debut in Moto2 will be a new beginning for me," he said. "After the first testing sessions, I found myself more comfortable on the bike and I was very fast. The approach with the new team was positive and Luca will be an excellent team-mate. He can teach me a lot and be a great stimulus."

Dennis Foggia will be aiming to build on a debut Moto3 podium during his second grand prix season with VR46, again on KTM machinery.

"I ended my rookie season growing and this will surely be a further injection of confidence for the next year," Foggia said. "Even in the testing session at the end of 2018 the feelings were positive and I’m looking forward to get back on track."

Foggia is set to face stiff competition from rookie Celestino Vietti, who has already claimed a rostrum as a wild-card in Australia: "I made my debut earlier than expected but, in the oversea races, I made a great experience for starting strong in 2019."

Team manager Pablo Nieto said: "We have closed a great 2018 reaching an important result for the whole team and for all the people from Sky and the VR46 who have worked on this project for the last 5 seasons. A job made of passion and commitment.

"But now it is time to think about 2019: we will confirm four strong riders, two rookies for starting a new growth path and two young guys with more experience and ready to fight for the top positions."