VR46 team owner Valentino Rossi on his new MotoGP line-up with Fabio Di Giannantonio instead of Luca Marini – What he expects from “Diggia” and Marco Bezzecchi
The Ducati customer team VR46 was the third of the eleven MotoGP teams to host its team presentation for the upcoming 2024 season. In addition to the eye-catching new look of the bikes in neon yellow and white, one of the two riders and the title sponsor are new to Valentino Rossi’s team compared to 2023
Marco Bezzecchi’s new VR46 teammate is Fabio Di Giannantonio, who made the switch from Gresini to VR46 within the Ducati structure this winter. “We are very happy to be competing with Fabio and Marco,” said Rossi following the presentation, not forgetting the business side: “The connection with our new sponsor Pertamina Enduro is also an important one.”
The new title sponsor of the VR46 team in question is the Enduro brand of the Indonesian-based mineral oil manufacturer Pertamina. This manufacturer has already been the title sponsor of the SAG team in the Moto2 World Championship for several years. In the VR46 MotoGP team, Pertamina replaces the previous title sponsor Mooney (an Italian financial services provider).
When asked about his team’s goals for the 2024 MotoGP season, Rossi said: “We are taking a lot of momentum from a fantastic year [2023] into the new season. Our goal is to win some races and play a role in the world championship battle. By that I don’t just mean the drivers’ championship, but also the team championship. “
In the 2023 season, VR46’s second in the premier class, Marco Bezzecchi scored three Grand Prix victories plus a win in a sprint. His team-mate at the time, Luca Marini, finished on the podium twice in the Grands Prix. Bezzecchi finished third and Marini eighth in the Riders’ Championship. VR46 finished third in the Team World Championship.
Marini has now been replaced by Fabio Di Giannantonio. In the Gresini team, “Diggia” achieved his first Grand Prix victory last year. Rossi speaks of a “great line-up” that his racing team now has with Bezzecchi and Di Giannantonio and explains: “Many thanks to Marco for deciding to stay with our team. We want to improve on our joint results from last year this year.”
“On the other hand,” Rossi continued, “we have Fabio, who doesn’t come from the VR46 academy. That’s something new for us. But I have to say that he was really competitive towards the end of last season. Our goal is that he can maintain this level.”