Bezzecchi adds his name to growing VR46 Academy winners list

The 2023 Argentina GP will forever live in the memory of Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). It was a lifelong dream realised for the likeable Italian at a rain-drenched Termas de Rio Hondo, five years on from claiming his first Grand Prix win at the very same venue.  

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But it wasn’t just the race win and World Championship lead accolades that Bezzecchi was able to boast about when leaving Argentina. Firstly, he became the first rider to win a premier class race for Valentino Rossi’s team, a day after both he and teammate Luca Marini stood on the Tissot Sprint podium.

Secondly, Bezzecchi joins Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) in becoming VR46 Academy's premier class race winners. It shows the hard work that has been put in over the years by everyone involved in the VR46 Academy has worked, and it’s continuing to reap rewards.

Bagnaia and Morbidelli have 15 MotoGP™ victories and three World Championships between them, meaning Bezzecchi’s Argentina GP win means the VR46 Academy now has 16 premier class wins to its name. Marini is the other VR46 rider currently racing on the MotoGP™ grid, and the Italian doesn’t seem far away from being able to take his debut MotoGP™ win either.

With Rossi happily retired, as well as the legendary Andrea Dovizioso, the nine-time World Champion’s protégés have picked up Italy’s MotoGP™ torch and are continuing to carry it proudly alongside the likes of Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team).

And as Bastianini did in 2022, Bezzecchi has quickly become a dark horse in 2023. Nine points clear at the top with close friend Pecco his nearest challenger. Who’s to say that Bezzecchi can’t continue to stay at the summit and challenge to become VR46’s second premier class title winner?