For a long time it was uncertain how Valentino Rossi’s newly established MotoGP team would be financed: Team manager Nieto clarifies why Aramco deal fell through
Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team will debut in MotoGP in the 2022 season. With his own MotoGP team, Rossi is fulfilling a lifelong dream. Last November, Rossi said goodbye to MotoGP and ended his 26-year World Championship career. The idea for his own MotoGP team had been around for a long time, but the realisation turned out to be more difficult than expected.
Aramco surprisingly announced a deal with VR46 last year (go to news). But this was not implemented. Another backer, Mooney, shows up on the team’s Ducatis.
“We signed a deal with Aramco, but the timing did not fit our ideas. That’s why we kept looking and came to an agreement with Mooney,” explained team manager Pablo Nieto.
Team director Alessio “Uccio” Salucci explains that despite Rossi’s notoriety, finding a sponsor was no easy task: “It’s always difficult to find a budget because for MotoGP and Moto2 you need a lot of money. With VR46 and ‘Vale’ it is a bit easier. We started preparing in March or April last year. In the past three months we worked very hard. “
Last year Rossi repeatedly made it clear that he was not involved in the operational processes. At the team presentation, the MotoGP icon was on stage with them. “He showed himself for the first time, but it was casual,” commented pal “Uccio. “
“Valentino unfortunately decided to end his career in MotoGP. Now he is concentrating on the cars. But he also has more time for this project now. He has a lot of experience in MotoGP and comes to the office two or three times a week so he can take care of certain things. He is 100 per cent behind this project,” explains “Uccio”.
Uccio” likes to fall back on Rossi’s hints and advice: “His ideas are always pretty clever and he has a lot of experience. It’s something special for us. “
With Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi, VR46 is sending two promising talents to the start. “Luca has more MotoGP experience and Marco is a rookie. We can show a very good season,” comments team manager Pablo Nieto.
But what is the team’s goal? Do they want to build talent or fight for the title sooner or later? “We are here so that Luca or Marco can move up to factory teams,” explains team director Alessio “Uccio” Salucci.
“I hope that our riders will make the jump to a factory team. That might not happen in the next two years, but maybe after that,” notes the long-time companion of MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi.
