The VR46 team loses Luca Marini to the Honda factory team: Why the loss is also the reward for the work of Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP team
Originally, the VR46 Ducati team planned to continue with the rider pairing of Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi in the 2024 MotoGP season. Bezzecchi could also have switched to Pramac, where a current factory Ducati was waiting for the Italian. However, the 2023 World Championship bronze medallist opted to stay with Valentino Rossi’s team, although he will continue to receive only last year’s material. Team-mate Marini could not resist the temptation of being a MotoGP factory rider
VR46 regretted the loss, but at the same time was happy about the opportunity for Marini. According to team boss Alessio “Uccio” Salucci, the original aim of the VR46 project in MotoGP was to develop young talent for the factory teams. This mission was successfully accomplished.
“On a human level, it was very nice because I was delighted that he was going to Honda. It was and is an incredible opportunity for him,” commented “Uccio”, Valentino Rossi’s long-time companion.
“This opportunity also came about thanks to our team,” remarks “Uccio” proudly. “Luca told me: ‘I’m not leaving because I don’t feel well. No, I really feel comfortable here. Honda is an opportunity that has arisen thanks to you.””
“We must not forget that we founded the Academy to bring riders into the factory teams. So the goal has been achieved. Marini at HRC. We can be proud of that,” said the VR46 Team Principal.
“We believe in what we are doing. We’ve kept ‘Bez’, who doesn’t get a current factory bike, but Marini does,” notes “Uccio”, who had to solve a few problems as a result of Marini’s switch to HRC.
Because the team’s supporters assumed that VR46 would continue with Marini and Bezzecchi in 2024. “Uccio” confirms that Marini’s spontaneous change “caused some problems with the partners because not everyone understands the situation”.
“We had to mediate, we did that and it all worked out. I’m really happy for him,” explains “Uccio”, who together with the other managers of the team made the decision to bring MotoGP race winner Fabio di Giannantonio to the team
