Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) has rightfully become one of the standout names of the new 2023 MotoGP™ season. With his unforgettable victory at Termas de Río Hondo, the #72 climbed to the top of the overall standings; a privilege he still holds after an intense weekend at the Circuit of the Americas.
Ahead of the Americas GP in Austin, his mentor Valentino Rossi featured in a special edition of Sportweek, a supplement of Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport. In it, 'The Doctor' highlights Bezzecchi and values everything achieved with the VR46 Academy: "We've done a great job with the Academy. I didn't even expect such good results in such a short time. That Bagnaia won the World Championship the year after my retirement is a unique sign of continuity."
After being named Rookie of the Year in 2022, Bez’ is taking giant steps forward in the new season and leads factory counterpart, fellow VR46 Academy graduate and reigning World Champion Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) in the Championship standings. Rossi, on his part, celebrates the newly found "rivalry" on the track: "There is a rivalry between Marco and Pecco, but it's a genuine, fair, and loyal rivalry. They train together at the Ranch, and that helps them to grow."
Beyond the potential duel between the two, Valentino has no doubt about including Bezzecchi among the title contenders: "Seeing how the team works and how the bike is performing, Bezzecchi can fight for the World Championship.
"The secret is that it's a team made up of our people, friends who worked for us in the past," he explains, also highlighting the contribution of his stepbrother, Luca Marini: "He hasn't won yet, but he's close. He's very, very fast. He has to find the right day, the feeling with the bike," he says about a Marini who came close to glory last Sunday in Austin, finishing 2nd.
Rossi, who also shared his thoughts on the Tissot Sprint, commented on his team's immediate plans in terms of manufacturer. Despite rumours of a possible upcoming move with Yamaha, 'The Doctor' seemingly feels very comfortable with the performance of the Desmosedici. "We have a contract with Ducati until 2024. It's a scary bike, it makes the difference; they're the best on the grid, and we were ready to choose them."
You can find more details of the Sportweek special through La Gazzetta dello Sport.