MotoGP, Uccio Salucci asserts: "I am Rossi's best friend, but that is not enough to run a team."

In just a few years, Ducati VR46 has established itself as one of the best teams on the gridIndeed, after Pramac's move to Yamaha, it was Valentino Rossi's team that inherited a current-year Desmosedici, namely a GP25 in 2025 for Fabio Di Giannantonio. Many uninitiated believe that Valentino Rossi is the team principal, but this is not the case at all: in reality, "The Doctor" is "only" the owner, and is not often present to directly support his riders. The team principal is none other than his childhood friend, Uccio Salucci.

Uccio is a well-known figure in the paddock, and now easily recognizable to spectators. He has been a close friend and mentor to Valentino Rossi for a very long time, helping him prepare. Then, when the VR46 team was created, initially in Moto3, he took on an increasingly important role, eventually becoming a MotoGP team manager in 2021. He shared his experience so far: « Over the past 20 years, I've seen different ways of working in a team and I love my job.It's been a long road since 2014, the year of our Moto3 debut, until today. In 2020, I announced to Vale my intention to take a major step and move up to MotoGP in 2021. Vale told me that after seven years in Moto3, then in Moto2, we were perhaps ready, so we took the plunge. I am undoubtedly Vale's best friend. but that would not be enough to manage a major MotoGP team » he declared for speedweek.

 

 

Of course, he does not deny the positive influence of Valentino Rossi on his life. « Because Vale has ridden for many top teams, I was able to gain valuable experience alongside him – at Aprilia, Honda, Ducati and YamahaIt's important to remember that I inherited this passion from my father. Back then, all the other fathers watched football, but mine wasn't interested; he was only interested in motorcycles and cars. At three or four years old, I attended my first live races in Salzburg and Hungary. I didn't meet Valentino until later. But of course, if I'm where I am today, I owe it to him. » he continued.

Uccio is aware of his good fortune, because not every team has one of the greatest drivers of all time as its standard-bearer. « Being Valentino Rossi's team helps us find sponsors.But we need more support, because a MotoGP team requires a significant budget. However, the fairing of a motorcycle doesn't offer a particularly large advertising surface. That's why we're constantly looking for new partners. We offer a high-quality welcome and can offer exclusive tours to our partners, but most importantly, it's the results.Even though we are the VR46 team, if we finish eighth or ninth, our partners are not satisfied. After several years in a category, good results are essential; It's obvious » he concluded.

What do you think of the path taken by the Rossi/Uccio duo over all these years? Tell us in the comments!

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport