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In less than a week the new VR46 adventure in MotoGP will get underway. On Thursday, in Jerez, Valentino Rossi's team will be on the track for the first time with the Ducati. This is the only certain thing, as otherwise there have been no official communications yet. Pablo Nieto, the team manager, however, has been revealing details of the MotoGP and Moto2 teams.
"We are in good shape - he reassured - There is a lot to do because it is a team that is starting from scratch, we are very busy but it is very nice because we have found the right people, capable and with a great desire to work".
The riders have not yet been announced, at least officially…
“That's true, but everyone knows the names, it's not a secret. We will have Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi in MotoGP, while Celestino Vietti and Niccolò Antonelli will be in Moto2 ”.
There has been a lot of speculation about the team's main sponsor this month…
“We are still working on that. We have already made an agreement and there are only small problems with the timing, but we are fine ”.
So will Aramco be as reported in the name of the two teams?
“We remain with what we have declared. Now the most important thing, more than the name of the team, is to be ready for the Jerez test ”.
So are a Ducati 2022 for Marini and a 2021 for Bezzecchi confirmed?
"Yes, but unfortunately Luca won't already have one at Jerez. Ducati, with two more bikes on the track, is making an incredible effort but will not be able to provide us with the latest evolution. So both Luca and Marco will have two Desmosedici 2021s in this first test ”.
Valentino Rossi had already anticipated the arrival of Munoz, Flamigni and Gavira.
"I am very happy, David is a trusted person, he has a lot of experience and as he is Valentino's chief engineer it’s like having gone to university 10 times. Matteo also has a great deal of experience, Flamigni will be the chief engineer of Bezzecchi and Munoz of Marini. Idalio will also be there, so it's as if Vale's team stays with us, VR46 is a big family that gets even bigger ”.
You will cover the role of team manager of both teams; how do you face this new adventure?
“I feel VR46 like my family, first of all, and this allows me to work better, to get along well with all the other people. I feel very excited, I think we can do a very good job and that we have something more than all the other teams, we will bring our DNA to MotoGP. We are also lucky because Luca and Bez have a very close relationship between them, in Moto2 they had worked very well together and we want to bring this method to MotoGP ”.
Will it be Vietti's year in Moto2?
“Celestino is a rider who always takes a step forward, even if it is small, on the right path. I prefer him to work like that rather than him making a huge one forward and then 5 backwards. In the last few races he has always fought to stay in the top 5, sometimes even for the podium, and above all these last GPs are important, because you carry the results with you throughout the winter. "
Antonelli will instead be making his debut in Moto2.
“I have rarely seen a rider with the potential he has, he is incredibly talented. Even when we go to train at Misano with the Academy, he is awesome on the R6. I believe that if we give him what he needs, he will be able to achieve good results ”.
Valentino will have some free time next year; will you be able to bring him to the track sometime?
“Maybe, Vale cares a lot about this team, it's as if he were his son, since 2014 we have worked a lot together with Uccio, Albi, Gianluca. I would like to always have Valentino in the garage, but I also know that he will be busy with car races. His presence will be important, a word from him is like 10 hours of lessons at university ".
