Valentino Rossi – Mooney VR46 Team Owner

It has been a long way since Moto3, but now we are ready to make our debut in MotoGP with a VR46 team and four young riders who I know will give their 100%. It is the closing of a circle for me and also for all the people who have worked with so much passion on this project over the years. At the same time it is a great debut and the beginning of a new chapter of this beautiful story in MotoGP. We are here thanks to the support of all our partners and I am happy to welcome Mooney: we met this winter at the Ranch, there was an immediate feeling and now we find ourselves here on this stage with these beautiful bikes with our colours.

Alessio Salucci – Mooney VR46 Racing Team Director

I can only be satisfied to be part of this new project, which is not that new. A team that has come a long way, thanks to the support of Sky Italia, a long apprenticeship between Moto2 and Moto3 and which step by step has reached MotoGP. A natural evolution to be able to follow the best talents of the VR46 Riders Academy even more closely. We saw Luca and Marco grow up. An important commitment in MotoGP, but which does not obscure Moto2 where we will continue to work because we believe it is preparatory for our riders. It was the right time to take up this challenge, a new chapter of this book always under the sign of the Italian spirit and the DNA of VR46 and Valentino who is 100% involved. He has always been innovative and here too there is his mark. Special thanks to all of our partners who continue to believe in this project and a welcome to Mooney, who joins our family as a title partner. Without their support it would not have been possible to arrive here, we hope to be able to really repay everyone for their trust in the best possible way.

Luca Marini

It will be a very important season for me and the whole Mooney VR46 Racing Team: I have begun to become familiar with the new Ducati GP22 bike and to understand its potential in the last tests. The feelings are more than positive, the goal is to be able to consistently stay in the top group, fighting for the Top 5 and always stay in the Top10. I would like to arrive on the podium then, I know it’s a very ambitious goal but I have faith in my crew. The atmosphere is great, we had fun and I had a good time. I also really like the colours of the bike, they have always been those of the VR46.

Marco Bezzecchi

Qatar is just a breath from now and I will have to learn to manage the positive pressure that will come. It has been a long wait and the adrenaline is a lot now. I’m happy with how the tests went, of course I still have a lot to do, we have only done one race simulation so far and the first GPs will be challenging. I like the Team, they are close-knit and the atmosphere is good. The title of Rookie of the year is a great goal, more than anything else I’d like to fight for it until the end. It will be special get out on the track on this bike: it has the colours of Valentino and the VR46 family and the Italian spirit of Mooney and Ducati.

Celestino Vietti

It will be a season to be lived in one breath: a year of experience on my shoulders, a motivated work group, that of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team, and some really positive feelings after the first tests. I can’t wait for Qatar GP, one of my favourite tracks to test myself. The pace is good, the goal is to be as constant and precise as possible, crucial characteristics for being competitive in Moto2.

Niccolo Antonelli

A new category, a new Team, the Mooney VR46 Racing Team, and new motivation and desire to do well. We worked hard in the testing to get as ready as possible for the first race in Qatar. The Team is helping me to measure up with the new category and to be comfortable in riding: there is a lot to do, but we are not in a hurry. We continue in this direction, gradually in order to be competitive as soon as possible.