Ahead Of The Mandalika MotoGP: Mooney VR46 Racing Team, Valentino Rossi's Ambition Which Almost Ran Aground

Valentino Rossi (center) with the Mooney VR46 Racing team that takes part in Moto2 and MotoGP 2022. (Photo: MotoGP.com)

JAKARTA - Valentino Rossi has indeed retired from MotoGP, but his enthusiasm can still be felt in his racing team, Mooney VR46 Racing Team. This team is very Italian because from the start, the riders, bikes and sponsors are all Italian.

Mooney VR46 Racing Team's achievement towards MotoGP was successful after going through a winding journey. The situation experienced was even in a state of uncertainty. In April 2021 Tanal Entertainment Sport & Media, the parent company of Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, announced that the VR46 team will be appearing in MotoGP in 2022-2026 with main sponsor Aramco.

However, on January 3, 2022, the VR46 team announced the cancellation of its partnership with Aramco as the main sponsor. Valentino Rossi's team is now cooperating with Mooney as the main sponsor. It is the first Italian company engaged in payments and banking.

The Mooney VR46 Racing Team performing in MotoGP 2022, with riders Marco Bezzecchi (left) and Luca Marini. (Photo: twitter@VR46RacingTeam)

The deal with Mooney ends the wait for Aramco to be confirmed as the main sponsor. The name Mooney VR46 Racing Team is used in MotoGP 2022. The team based in Tavullia, Italy was founded by Valentino Rossi to continue to produce young riders.

In fact, Rossi has had his own racing team since 2014 under the name VR46 Racing Team. However, the team only dropped in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes. Within four years, the team had succeeded in becoming world champions in the 2018 Moto2 class with racer Francesco Bagnaia.

It's not enough to reach the Moto2 class, Rossi is trying to penetrate into MotoGP. That ambition is reinforced by the expiration of the Esponsorama Racing Team's racing license at the end of MotoGP 2021. VR46 is slowly entering through Luca Marini, who made his MotoGP debut last year.

And finally, Mooney VR46 Racing Team managed to become one of the 2022 MotoGP participants. Mooney VR46 Team became a Ducati satellite team.

Rossi's Old Friends

As a debut team at the 2022 MotoGP event, the Mooney VR46 team is manned by two Italian riders, Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi. They previously worked in Moto3 and Moto2. Marini is runner-up in Moto2 2020 and 19th in MotoGP in 2021, while Bezzecchi is third in Moto2 in 2021 and has now moved up to MotoGP.

Luca Marini is the half-brother of Valentino Rossi who also graduated from the VR46 Riders Academy. Just like Marini, Bezzecchi is also Rossi's protege at VR46 Riders Academy.

Marco Bezzecchi has filled one driver's seat on the VR46 Racing Team this season, and the 2022 MotoGP will be his debut.

Luca Marini, the main rider for the Mooney VR46 Racing MotoGP team. (Photo: MotoGP.com)

The presence of Mooney VR46 Racing Team in MotoGP 2022 should be watched out for. Because, they are equipped with a Ducati Desmosedici GP motorbike.

The motorbike used by Marini is a Desmosedici GP22 with lower specifications than the factory team. Meanwhile, Bezzecchi is equipped with a Desmosedici GP21 motorbike. The bike has succeeded in becoming the world champion in the constructors category in MotoGP 2021. Even though it is a year older, the Desmosedici GP21 should not be underestimated.

Bezzecchi was amazed by the ability of the Ducati Desmosedici GP21 when he raced it on the first day of pre-season testing in Sepang, Malaysia. At Sepang, the Bezzecchi reached a top speed of 333.3 kilometers per hour. Bezzecchi continues to study the character of the motorcycle, including improving the riding position.

High Goal

Despite being a debutant, Rossi's racing team has a fairly high target in MotoGP 2022. To fill the positions behind the scenes, Rossi collaborates with people who are already familiar to him. All Mooney VR46 Racing Team personnel are experienced in motorcycle racing. Alessio Salucci, who is Valentino Rossi's best friend, was appointed team director. Uccio, his nickname, has been accompanying The Doctor for decades.

For the team manager, Rossi appointed Pablo Nieto in the MotoGP class. Pablo is the son of Angel Nieto, a MotoGP legend whose name is immortalized at the Jerez Circuit. Pablo Nieto's progress is unquestionable.

David Munoz, who became Rossi's last crew chief, was appointed to take care of the Marini. Meanwhile, Matteo Flagmini, who once played Rossi's former data engineer, will be Bezzechi's crew chief.

Marco Bezzecchi, MotoGP debutant who became the number two rider for the Mooney VR46 Racing Team. (Photo: MotoGP.com)

One other figure is Idalio Gavira who has also worked with Rossi. The Italian man was given the task of racing coach as well as head of tire strategy. The position of coach for the drivers was handed over to Roberto Locatelli.

Salucci is happy that this VR46 team can step up to MotoGP.

"We are happy with the team's journey so far. It has led us to become one of the teams in MotoGP, whose project has been started since 8 years ago," said Salucci, quoted from Speedweek.

With the presence of these names, making the debutant of the VR46 Racing Team worth watching out for. Although it is predicted that this team will not immediately jump to the front row in its first year. However, Money VR46 Racing Team is ready to steal the attention of the MotoGP public this season.