After three days of hard work, the 10th-edition Yamaha VR46 Master Camp riders had a day of fun. They let loose on MiniGP bikes and Go-Karts and were invited to the VR46 Motor Ranch in the evening to sit in on a private VR46 Riders Academy training and meet MotoGP™ Legend Valentino Rossi. The fourth day of the 10th Yamaha VR46 Master Camp will be engraved in Jurand Kusmierczyk’s (aged 17, from Poland), Devis Bergamini’s (aged 19, from Italy), Andrea Pizzoli’s (aged 18, also from Italy), Kevin Fontainha’s (aged 15, from Brazil), and Enzo Valentim Garcia’s (aged 17, also from Brazil) memories as the day that they got to meet their idol, Valentino Rossi, at his VR46 Motor Ranch.
The day started off as normal with the riders heading back to the Jeepers Kart track to test their skills in a MiniGP Superpole. Day 2 MiniGP coach Marco Bezzecchi visited the session to check on their progress. It was a close battle, but ultimately the honours went to Fontainha, with Kusmierczyk and Bergamini finishing in second and third place respectively.
It was then time for a Master Camp premiere: the first-ever ‘mixed’ Go-Kart race at the Go-Kart Misano - Riviera Verde in which also Master Camp staff members were allowed to participate. As expected, the riders were no match against the staff with again Fontainha taking first place in the overall results, this time with Bergamini taking second ahead of Pizzoli.
After a short ice cream break, it was time for the main event. The riders headed back to the VR46 Motor Ranch, as they were specially invited to look in on a VR46 Riders Academy training session and Americana match-off from the sidelines. Flat Track coach Marco Belliwas by their side to walk the track and point out technical skills that could be useful for their final Flat Track training on Day 5.
Meeting their idol was the icing on the cake for the riders. Rossi soon made his way to the Master Camp crew to shake hands with the students, who he had been following from a distance over the last four days. You can see the moment he met the riders by clicking here!
Devis Bergamimi: "We went to the Ranch to watch Valentino and the VR46 Academy Riders train. That was amazing! To see them train at the track that we also trained at and watch how they do it, that was special."
Andrea Pizzoli: "It was really fun, apart from when I crashed during my Superpole lap. During the kart race I had a big battle with Kevin, which again was lots of fun, and this time I came third. But the evening was the best. It’s a truly unique experience – something that words can’t describe. It was the most beautiful thing to see in the world for a rider. Especially the last Americana race gave me goosebumps."
Kevin Fontainha: "The day got even better when in the evening we got to see Valentino and the VR46 Riders Academy train at the Ranch. That was incredible! They were so fast in the training, really went all-out!"
Enzo Valentim Garcia: "In 2019 we had a race at Termas de Río Hondo, at the Argentina GP, and I met Valentino there. But it was only very short, there was no time to talk of course, because it was a busy race weekend. But to meet him here at his home and watching them race at the end of the training session – that was something so special! I didn’t record anything on my phone, but this will live on in my memory forever. Meeting the person who made me start racing, watching him ride, and being so close to him, that’s special. He was so nice as well, taking photos with everyone. So, I’m just really happy to be here at the Master Camp."
Jurand Kusmierczyk: "Watching the training session of the VR46 Academy Riders was a really great opportunity for a rider. We got to see how the best riders in the world are training, and also seeing them in person was a great opportunity for us. How they ride, that was pretty amazing!"