Nine-time Grand Prix World Champion Rossi will bring his VR46 team to MotoGP full-time in 2022, having sponsored Luca Marini’s side of the Avintia roster this season with Saudi oil giant Aramco as the title sponsor.
The VR46 team will take over both spots from Avintia as the Spanish team prepares to leave MotoGP at the end of the season after signing a five-year deal with Dorna Sports.
VR46’s decision on which manufacturer to partner with became a direct choice between Ducati and Yamaha, with the latter allegedly willing to offer it its motorcycles at a discounted price that it is currently charging Petronas SRT at.
However, VR46 has teamed up with Ducati, with which Rossi raced in the premier class in 2011 and 2012.
“We are very pleased to have entered into this agreement with VR46 for the next three years, ”said Gigi Dall’Igna, General Manager of Ducati.
“Your academy has always worked seriously and with great professionalism, giving many riders the opportunity to gain experience in Moto2 and Moto3, and today they can be proud to have brought three young riders with great talent.
“VR46 has also shown that it is able to competently lead a successful team in Moto3 and Moto2 and that is why we will endeavor to offer your new team in MotoGP the maximum technical support, as we are convinced that They found an ambitious and motivated partner like us in VR46, with the common goal of achieving great results together. “
Alessio Salucci, VR46 Riders Academy, Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO Dorna Sports, Luigi Dall’Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse
Photo by: Media VR46
VR46 is expected to use a works bike for Luca Marini and a 2021 Desmosedici for his teammate, who will likely be Marco Bezzecchi.
However, Saudi Price Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Saud has hopes that Rossi will run for his own team in 2022, saying: “It would be great for me that Valentino Rossi can compete as a driver of our Aramco Racing Team VR46 together with his brother Luca Marini over the next few years.”
Pablo Nieto will be team manager of the VR46 team from 2022, a role that he currently occupies with the team in Moto2 and Moto3.
Ducati’s 2022 presence on the MotoGP grid will grow to eight bikes for the first time since 2018, with the factory team, Pramac and Gresini Racing – who announced their deal and rider line-up last week – also representing the brand.
The VR46-Ducati association confirmed the continuation of the partnership between SRT and Yamaha beyond 2021, with an announcement expected soon.
It also confirms that Suzuki and Aprilia will not have satellite teams in 2022.
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