Jakarta – For the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, the Indonesian Grand Prix has become more than another stop on the MotoGP calendar. The team will return to Mandalika with a special livery for the third consecutive year, this time using the Garuda as the central element of its visual identity.
The special design was unveiled at the Pertamina Lubricants Production Unit in Jakarta ahead of the Pertamina Indonesian GP. It will be used on the Ducati Desmosedici GP motorcycles ridden by Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli.
The decision to create another Indonesia-specific design reflects the relationship the Tavullia-based team has developed with the country. VR46 describes Indonesia as a second home, making the Mandalika round an opportunity to reflect that connection through its race bikes.
Garuda Becomes the Link Between VR46 and Indonesia
The main idea behind the new design is straightforward. Instead of adding a small Indonesian reference to its standard motorcycle livery, VR46 has made the Garuda the centerpiece of the design.
The bird’s wings stretch across both sides of the Ducati. Its head is positioned around the fuel tank, giving the symbol a prominent position on the motorcycle.
The choice of Garuda also connects the racing team with an element that has a long history in Indonesian culture.
The Garuda has roots in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, where it is known as the vahana, or mount, of Lord Vishnu. The figure later became part of Indonesian tradition and was adopted as the national symbol through Garuda Pancasila.
For VR46, the symbolism also fits the character the team wants to project on the racetrack. Courage and fighting spirit are among the values associated with the Garuda in the special-livery concept.
That makes the design more than a decorative change for the Indonesian race.
Red and White Take Over the Ducati
The Indonesian connection is immediately visible through the colors.
White becomes the main background across the motorcycle, while red is used for the Garuda itself. Golden flame details add another layer to the design.
VR46 does not completely abandon its own identity, however.
The team’s distinctive fluorescent yellow remains on the front section of the motorcycle. It sits alongside the red, white and gold elements, creating a combination that connects the Indonesian theme with the team’s established visual identity.
The result is a motorcycle that can still be recognized as a VR46 machine while looking distinctly different from the bikes used at other rounds.
Aldo Drudi and Drudi Performance are responsible for the livery design, continuing their involvement in the team’s special visual projects.
The Design Is Specific to Mandalika
Special liveries are often used in MotoGP to mark particular races or occasions. In VR46’s case, the Indonesian design has become a recurring feature.
The team is using an Indonesia-dedicated livery for the third consecutive year at the Pertamina Indonesian GP.
That repetition gives the design a different significance. It is no longer simply a one-off visual experiment. It has become part of how VR46 presents itself when the championship arrives in Indonesia.
The choice also reflects the position of Mandalika within the team’s relationship with its Indonesian supporters.
Rather than carrying the same motorcycle design from one circuit to another, VR46 gives its Indonesian round a visual identity of its own.
The Garuda Theme Extends to the Team
The tribute does not stop with the Ducati motorcycles.
VR46 will also use special team apparel from Kappa during the Indonesian Grand Prix. The collection uses the Garuda motif and follows the same red, white and gold color combination seen on the bikes.
A special cap will also carry the same visual theme.
This extends the Indonesian identity beyond the machines that compete on track. Riders, crew and other team members will become part of the same visual presentation throughout the race weekend.
It also creates a more consistent connection between the motorcycle and the people representing the team around the circuit.
A Different Kind of Motorsport Identity
The special livery shows how a MotoGP team can adapt its identity to the place where it is racing.
VR46 remains an Italian team based in Tavullia. Its fluorescent yellow identity remains visible. Its Ducati motorcycles and riders remain unchanged.
What changes is the way the team chooses to represent itself for one particular audience and one particular race.
In Mandalika, the Garuda becomes the dominant symbol. The Indonesian colors take priority, while the team’s own visual language remains underneath the new design.
That balance is important. The motorcycle does not attempt to replace VR46’s identity with an entirely different one. Instead, it creates a temporary meeting point between the team and the country hosting the race.
Indonesia Has Become Part of the VR46 Story
The Indonesian Grand Prix has only been on the MotoGP calendar for a relatively short period, but VR46 has already developed a distinct relationship with the country.
The decision to prepare a dedicated livery for the third consecutive year reinforces that connection.
For fans, the most visible result will be the Garuda stretching across the Ducati Desmosedici GP motorcycles at Mandalika. But the broader message goes beyond the graphics.
The special design connects an Italian racing operation, its Indonesian partner and the national identity of the country hosting the race.
That makes the 2026 livery more than a change in appearance.
When Di Giannantonio and Morbidelli take to the Mandalika circuit, their motorcycles will carry a design created specifically for Indonesia. The Garuda will sit alongside the familiar VR46 colors, turning the race bikes into a visual tribute to a country the team now considers a second home.
