VR46 Racing Team

VR46 Racing Team
2024 nameMotoGP:
Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team
BaseTavullia, Italy
PrincipalOwner:
Valentino Rossi
Team Manager:
Pablo Nieto
Rider(s)MotoGP:
21. Franco Morbidelli
49. Fabio Di Giannantonio
MotorcycleMotoGP:
Ducati Desmosedici
TyresMotoGP:
Michelin
Riders' ChampionshipsMoto2:
2018: Francesco Bagnaia
Teams' ChampionshipsMoto2:
2020

The VR46 Racing Team is a MotoGP racing team owned by Valentino Rossi and based in Tavullia (Marche, Italy) under the name Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team.

History

[edit]

The team was founded in 2014 by the nine time world champion Valentino Rossi, with the goal of promoting young Italian talent in response to the massive influx of Spanish riders in Grand Prix racing since the turn of the century.

Beginning in 2022, the VR46 team entered the MotoGP championship in their own right, taking over the grid slots from Esponsorama Racing who left the premier class after 10 seasons.[1][2]

The team will make their debut in the class with riders Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi.[3]

In 2023, Bezzecchi managed to fight for the championship until late in the season where injuries and an older bike derail his title run.

For 2024 Luca Marini depart the team to join HRC Repsol Honda[4] and will be replaced by Fabio Di Giannantonio.[5]

For 2025 Marco Bezzecchi depart VR46 to join Aprilia.[6]

Operations

[edit]

Technical partnerships

[edit]

Esponsorama Racing

[edit]

In 2021, VR46 and Esponsorama Racing came to an agreement where Esponsorama would organize the racing operations for an entry under the Italian flag and the Sky VR46 name and livery.[7][8][9]

Ducati

[edit]

VR46 Racing signed a contract with Ducati for the use of their chassis and machinery until at least the end of 2024[10], making them the satellite team of Ducati Corse.

Sponsorships

[edit]
Time Title sponsor Country Industry Reference
2022 - 2023 Mooney Group  Italy Fintech [11][12]
2024 - present Pertamina  Indonesia Petroleum [13]

Former divisions

[edit]

Moto2

[edit]

In 2017, the team decided to take part in the Moto2 class.

From 2023, Fantic will be its own team at the expense of the VR46 entry.

The partnership was already operational from the race at Silverstone 2022, where the Fantic brand appeared on the motorcycles of Celestino Vietti Ramus and Niccolò Antonelli.[14]

Moto3

[edit]

In 2014, VR46 Racing Team entered the Moto3 World Championship as Sky Racing Team VR46.

In the team's first year they choose Romano Fenati and Francesco Bagnaia as riders with Rossi's former Cagiva teammate Vittoriano Guareschi as team manager.[15]

VR46 Racing left the Moto3 class after 2020, citing "a lack of Italian talent" available between many Italian Moto3 teams (such as Gresini, Sic58, Snipers, and Max Racing).[7][8]

Grand Prix motorcycle results

[edit]
As of 17 November 2024The team has to date collected 31 race wins (9 in Moto3, 19 in Moto2 and 3 in MotoGP), one riders' championship (with Francesco Bagnaia in Moto2 in 2018), and one teams' championship (Moto2 in 2020).
Class Seasons 1st place 2nd place 3rd place Pole position Fastest Lap 1–2 finishes Riders World Championship Teams World Championship
Moto3 2014-2020 9 5 12 6 14 0 0 0
Moto2 2017-2022 20 15 15 15 9 2 1 (2018) 1 (2020)
MotoGP 2022- 3 3 4 4 5 0 0 0
Total 2014- 32 23 31 25 28 2 1 1

Moto3

[edit]
Key
Regular rider
Wildcard rider
Replacement rider

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Season Machine No Rider 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 R.C. Points T.C. Points
2014 KTM RC250GP 5 Italy Romano Fenati QAT
12
AME
2
ARG
1
SPA
1
FRA
Ret
ITA
1
CAT
5
NED
18
GER
Ret
IND
2
CZE
11
GBR
16
RSM
11
ARA
1
JPN
7
AUS
Ret
MAL
Ret
VAL
14
5th 176 - -
21 Italy Francesco Bagnaia QAT
10
AME
7
ARG
Ret
SPA
8
FRA
4
ITA
Ret
CAT
10
NED
DNS
GER
DNS
IND
Ret
CZE
17
GBR
21
RSM
Ret
ARA
24
JPN
13
AUS
11
MAL
Ret
VAL
16
16th 50
2015 5 Italy Romano Fenati QAT
Ret
AME
8
ARG
8
SPA
6
FRA
1
ITA
3
CAT
8
NED
5
GER
4
IND
4
CZE
6
GBR
12
RSM
4
ARA
3
JPN
28
AUS
6
MAL
5
VAL
Ret
4th 176 - -
16 Italy Andrea Migno QAT
24
AME
12
ARG
17
SPA
21
FRA
9
ITA
15
CAT
28
NED
12
GER
21
IND
20
CZE
13
GBR
15
RSM
13
ARA
9
JPN
20
AUS
Ret
MAL
24
VAL
11
19th 35
8 Italy Nicolò Bulega VAL
12
31st 4
2016 5 Italy Romano Fenati QAT
4
ARG
20
AME
1
SPA
7
FRA
2
ITA
Ret
CAT
4
NED
4
GER
18
AUT
DNS
10th 93 - -
16 Italy Andrea Migno QAT
17
AME
29
ARG
15
SPA
11
FRA
7
ITA
10
CAT
18
NED
3
GER
Ret
AUT
25
CZE
12
GBR
Ret
RSM
15
ARA
11
JPN
24
AUS
Ret
MAL
Ret
VAL
3
17th 63
8 Italy Nicolò Bulega QAT
6
ARG
18
AME
10
SPA
2
FRA
5
ITA
8
CAT
5
NED
7
GER
Ret
AUT
9
CZE
9
GBR
5
RSM
4
ARA
Ret
JPN
3
AUS
Ret
MAL
Ret
VAL
17
7th 129
48 Italy Lorenzo Dalla Porta GBR
18
RSM
17
ARA
25
JPN
11
AUS
19
MAL
16
VAL
Ret
30th 12
2017 8 Italy Nicolò Bulega QAT
14
ARG
16
AME
5
SPA
7
FRA
17
ITA
10
CAT
9
NED
10
GER
4
CZE
23
AUT
11
GBR
20
RSM
5
ARA
14
JPN
12
AUS
11
MAL
Ret
VAL
DNS
12th 81 - -
16 Italy Andrea Migno QAT
6
ARG
5
AME
12
SPA
6
FRA
8
ITA
1
CAT
8
NED
14
GER
16
CZE
11
AUT
21
GBR
8
RSM
9
ARA
11
JPN
13
AUS
14
MAL
6
VAL
16
9th 118
10 Italy Dennis Foggia ARA
8
VAL
7
24th 19
2018 8 Italy Nicolò Bulega QAT
Ret
ARG
Ret
AME
Ret
SPA
17
FRA
Ret
ITA
21
CAT
Ret
NED
11
GER
14
CZE
19
AUT
23
GBR
C
RSM
Ret
ARA
14
THA
7
26th 18 9th 97
10 Italy Dennis Foggia QAT
16
ARG
Ret
AME
16
SPA
Ret
FRA
14
ITA
Ret
CAT
9
NED
12
GER
19
CZE
12
AUT
26
GBR
C
RSM
7
ARA
25
THA
3
JPN
4
AUS
Ret
MAL
Ret
VAL
Ret
19th 55
13 Italy Celestino Vietti JPN
14
AUS
3
MAL
Ret
VAL
10
25th 24
2019 7 Italy Dennis Foggia QAT
Ret
ARG
8
AME
10
SPA
16
FRA
Ret
ITA
5
CAT
5
NED
9
GER
Ret
CZE
15
AUT
14
GBR
8
RSM
5
ARA
3
THA
5
JPN
23
AUS
11
MAL
19
VAL
DNS
12th 97 4th 232
13 Italy Celestino Vietti QAT
5
ARG
14
AME
9
SPA
3
FRA
7
ITA
9
CAT
3
NED
Ret
GER
Ret
CZE
19
AUT
4
GBR
9
RSM
Ret
ARA
14
THA
6
JPN
3
AUS
Ret
MAL
5
VAL
8
6th 135
20 San Marino Elia Bartolini RSM
15
34th 1
2020 13 Italy Celestino Vietti QAT
28
SPA
5
AND
3
CZE
13
AUT
5
STY
1
RSM
Ret
EMI
2
CAT
8
FRA
1
ARA
9
TER
5
EUR
23
VAL
24
POR
7
5th 146 3rd 206
16 Italy Andrea Migno QAT
16
SPA
4
AND
22
CZE
14
AUT
12
STY
13
RSM
10
EMI
8
CAT
Ret
FRA
5
ARA
Ret
TER
18
EUR
12
VAL
7
POR
21
15th 60

Moto2

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Season Machine No Rider 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 R.C. Points T.C. Points
2017 Kalex Moto2 42 Italy Francesco Bagnaia QAT
12
ARG
7
AME
16
SPA
2
FRA
2
ITA
22
CAT
13
NED
10
GER
3
CZE
7
AUT
4
GBR
5
RSM
3
ARA
10
JPN
4
AUS
12
MAL
5
VAL
4
5th 174 - -
62 Italy Stefano Manzi QAT
29
ARG
23
AME
Ret
SPA
25
FRA
Ret
ITA
Ret
CAT
Ret
NED
20
GER
15
CZE
21
AUT
Ret
GBR
7
RSM
Ret
ARA
15
JPN
26
AUS
13
MAL
Ret
VAL
Ret
25th 14
2018 42 Italy Francesco Bagnaia QAT
1
ARG
9
AME
1
SPA
3
FRA
1
ITA
4
CAT
8
NED
1
GER
12
CZE
3
AUT
1
GBR
C
RSM
1
ARA
2
THA
1
JPN
1
AUS
12
MAL
3
VAL
14
1st 306 2nd 453
10 Italy Luca Marini QAT
9
ARG
16
AME
13
SPA
Ret
FRA
Ret
ITA
7
CAT
17
NED
8
GER
3
CZE
2
AUT
3
GBR
C
RSM
Ret
ARA
11
THA
2
JPN
9
AUS
5
MAL
1
VAL
Ret
7th 147
2019 11 Italy Nicolò Bulega QAT
Ret
ARG
Ret
AME SPA
9
FRA
10
ITA
Ret
CAT
13
NED
Ret
GER
18
CZE
7
AUT
13
GBR
20
RSM
Ret
ARA
12
THA
8
JPN
Ret
AUS
12
MAL
12
VAL
22
17th 48 6th 238
10 Italy Luca Marini QAT
8
ARG
7
AME
6
SPA
8
FRA
13
ITA
2
CAT
6
NED
3
GER
10
CZE
5
AUT
Ret
GBR
9
RSM
11
ARA
4
THA
1
JPN
1
AUS
Ret
MAL
10
VAL
8
6th 190
2020 10 Italy Luca Marini QAT
Ret
SPA
1
AND
2
CZE
4
AUT
2
STY
7
RSM
1
EMI
4
CAT
1
FRA
17
ARA
Ret
TER
11
EUR
6
VAL
5
POR
2
2nd 196 1st 380
72 Italy Marco Bezzecchi QAT
12
SPA
Ret
AND
3
CZE
6
AUT
6
STY
1
RSM
2
EMI
2
CAT
7
FRA
3
ARA
Ret
TER
Ret
EUR
1
VAL
3
POR
4
4th 184
2021 13 Italy Celestino Vietti QAT
12
DOH
7
POR
Ret
SPA
18
FRA
19
ITA
16
CAT
14
GER
15
NED
10
STY
6
AUT
6
GBR
12
ARA
15
RSM
10
AME
Ret
EMI
4
ALR
6
VAL
4
12th 89 3rd 303
72 Italy Marco Bezzecchi QAT
4
DOH
4
POR
6
SPA
2
FRA
3
ITA
3
CAT
4
GER
3
NED
5
STY
1
AUT
10
GBR
2
ARA
Ret
RSM
5
AME
3
EMI
Ret
ALR
8
VAL
20
3rd 214
2022 13 Italy Celestino Vietti QAT
1
INA
2
ARG
1
AME
Ret
POR
2
SPA
6
FRA
8
ITA
Ret
CAT
1
GER
Ret
NED
4
GBR
6
AUT
Ret
RSM
Ret
ARA
10
JPN
Ret
THA
10
AUS
Ret
MAL
Ret
VAL
Ret
7th 165 8th 165
28 Italy Niccolò Antonelli QAT
26
INA
25
ARG
Ret
AME
Ret
POR
Ret
SPA
23
FRA
Ret
ITA
18
CAT
19
GER
Ret
NED
Ret
GBR
19
AUT
16
RSM
Ret
ARA
20
JPN
Ret
THA
22
AUS
Ret
MAL
21
VAL
Ret
36th 0

MotoGP

[edit]

(key)

Season Name Machine Tyres No. Rider Race R.C. Points T.C. Points M.C. Points
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
2022 Mooney VR46 Racing Team QAT INA ARG AME POR SPA FRA ITA CAT GER NED GBR AUT RSM ARA JPN THA AUS MAL VAL 8th 231 1st 448
Ducati Desmosedici GP22 M 10 Italy Luca Marini 13 14 11 17 12 16 9 6 6 5 17 12 4 4 7F 6 23 6 Ret 7 12th 120
Ducati Desmosedici GP21 72 Italy Marco Bezzecchi Ret 20 9 Ret 15 9 12 5 Ret 11 2 10 9 17 10 10 16P 4 4 11 14th 111
2023 POR ARG AME SPA FRA ITA GER NED GBR AUT CAT RSM IND JPN INA AUS THA MAL QAT VAL 3rd 530 1st 700
Ducati Desmosedici GP22 M 10 Italy Luca Marini Ret 83 27 6 Ret4 45 54 7 7 4 11 97 DNS RetP 2 12 73 109 33 9 8th 201
72 Italy Marco Bezzecchi 3 12 F 66 Ret9 17 F 82 47 2P 1 RetP 2 3 128 22 1P 5 F 46 53 6 46 F 67 13 Ret7 3rd 329
2024 Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team QAT POR AME SPA FRA CAT ITA NED GER GBR AUT ARA RSM EMI INA JPN AUS THA MAL SLD 5th 318 1st 722
Ducati Desmosedici GP23 M 49 Italy Fabio Di Giannantonio 7 10 6 7 67 56 77 45 Ret 59 DNS 8 9 14 Ret9 86 47 48 F 10th 165
29 Italy Andrea Iannone 17 27th 0
51 Italy Michele Pirro 20 29th 0
72 Italy Marco Bezzecchi 14 6 8 3 Ret 119 13 Ret 8 8 68 7 5 48 54 7 19 Ret7 9 98 12th 153
2025 THA ARG AME QAT SPA FRA GBR ARA ITA NED GER CZE AUT HUN CAT RSM JPN INA AUS MAL POR VAL NC 0 NC 0
Ducati Desmosedici GP24 M 21 Italy Franco Morbidelli
Ducati Desmosedici GP25 49 Italy Fabio Di Giannantonio

List of Grand Prix winners

[edit]
No. Name Seasons Wins Podiums
1 Italy Francesco Bagnaia 2014, 2017–2018 8 16
2 Italy Marco Bezzecchi 2020–2024 6 22
3 Italy Luca Marini 2018–2023 6 17
4 Italy Romano Fenati 2014–2016 6 11
5 Italy Celestino Vietti 2018–2022 4 11
6 Italy Andrea Migno 2015–2017, 2020 1 3

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Duncan, Lewis (28 April 2021). "VR46 team to race in MotoGP from 2022 with Saudi backing". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  2. ^ Jones, Robert (12 September 2021). "Rossi: I don't know well the situation with the Prince, but we will be in MotoGP". Crash.net. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Pablo Nieto confirms Bezzecchi as a 2022 MotoGP rider". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  4. ^ "OFFICIAL: Marini to leave Mooney VR46 at the end of 2023". The Official Home of MotoGP. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Di Giannantonio joins Mooney VR46 Racing Team". The Official Home of MotoGP. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Bezzecchi lascia Ducati per Aprilia: a fianco di Martin dal 2025". sportmediaset.mediaset.it. sportmediaset.mediaset.it. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  7. ^ a b Pezzoni, Marco (1 December 2020). "Moto3, Sky Racing Team: from stellar debut to closure". MotoSprint. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  8. ^ a b Wiesinger, Günther (2 November 2020). "Überraschung: SKY VR46 steigt aus der Moto3-WM aus / Moto3 - SPEEDWEEK.COM". SpeedWeek.com (in German). Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  9. ^ Fialho, Fabio (8 November 2020). "Marini and Bastianini confirmed in Esponsorama Racing for the MotoGP in 2021 - Motorcycle Sports". MotorcycleSports.net. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Aramco Racing Team VR46 sign three-year deal with Ducati". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Mooney set to become new title sponsor of the VR46 Racing Team in MotoGP". GPone.com. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Enel and Intesa Sanpaolo to jointly acquire Mooney and create european fintech". Enel.com. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Valentino Rossi's VR46 MotoGP team confirms a new title sponsor for 2024". Crash. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  14. ^ "VR46 and Fantic sign official agreement with focus on Moto2 World Championship". www.motorcyclesports.net. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  15. ^ "Guareschi - A 'father' to Fenati and Bagnaia". motogp.com. Retrieved 21 May 2021.