Ahead of their first foray on track this season – set for the Official Moto2™ and Moto3™ test at Jerez mid-February – Sky Racing Team VR46 had their 2018 Team Presentation in Milan, with Moto2™ riders Francesco Bagnaia and Luca Marini joined on stage by Moto3™’s Nicolo Bulega and Dennis Foggia as the covers came off their new machines.
Team Manager Pablo Nieto is positive about the year ahead: “We have a great opportunity in 2018 and, as a real Team, we will work with commitment, passion and professionalism without leaving anything to chance. We expect great things from Pecco (Francesco): he has shown that he can be competitive in the Championship and, with the technical innovations introduced for the new season, he can fight close to the Top guys. Also Luca, thanks to his experience, is ready to become one of the strongest riders. The goals are ambitious also in Moto3: from the next week we will be on track with the new KTM. Nicolò will be back to racing after the bad injury of the last season, while a new adventure starts with Dennis, making his debut in the World Championship.”
As Nieto says, Bagnaia showed his prowess in 2017 – taking the title of Rookie of the Year and on the rostrum in his first season. Now, the Italian is looking to fight for the crown.
“The first year in Moto2 was full of satisfactions and important results, achieved thanks to the work of the whole team,” says Bagnaia. “We have proved to be competitive, we gained experience in our year as rookies in the category and, thanks to the technical improvements introduced, now we have the opportunity to fight with the top guys for the Championship. We are motivated to continue our path of growth to be closer to the strongest.”
Luca Marini, meanwhile, is moving to the team looking for another step forward after some solid seasons in the intermediate category. “After two years in Moto2 and the good results of the 2017, this will definitely be a key season for me,” affirms the Italian. “I will debut with the new team and I am very satisfied with the work done in the pre-season with all the new technicians. The goal is to make another step forward and being closer to the strongest guys. I am lucky: I’m part of one of the most competitive teams in the category.”
In Moto3™, 2015 FIM CEV Repsol Moto3™ Junior World Champion Bulega is the man expected to lead the charge, with some good experience under his belt. And after recovering from a broken ankle sustained at the end of last season, he wants to bounce back quickly.
“Last year was more difficult than we expected and I have decided to ask to the team for another season in Moto3 to continue my growth,” explains Bulega. “The injury at the end of the year made things more complicated, but I took full advantage of winter to be able to back fit at 100% for the first tests. I can not wait to get back on my KTM to understand exactly my physical situation, and start the development of the new bike."
On the other side of the lightweight category garage for the team, there’s a face new to both Sky Racing Team VR46 and the Moto3™ World Championship: Dennis Foggia. The reigning FIM CEV Repsol Moto3™ Junior World Champion moves onto the world stage full time this season, going from the junior team to Grand Prix rider. “I’m looking forward to starting this new adventure in the World Championship with Sky Racing Team VR46,” he says, “and I'm really happy to debut with the team that has already supported me last year in the CEV. It's a dream. The main goal is to learn as much I can, gain experience and be able to take the pace of this Championship. I will give my best, I will try to have fun and hit the top 10.”
Sky Racing Team VR46 will be testing for the first time at Jerez from 12th February, before it will soon be time for the first race of the season at Losail in Qatar, which gets underway mid-March.