With Valentino Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso, the attention of motorcycle Grand Prix fans will be focused this Wednesday on the Italian side. Two planned events will thus be closely followed, since they will partly determine what the 2022 season will deliver to us as a MotoGP starting grid. First there will be the certainty of an Aramco VR46 team equipped with Ducati. Then there will be Dovizioso's new test on the Aprilia RS-GP...
This Wednesday, June 23, Valentino Rossi see his project VR46 enter another dimension with a leading Saudi partnership while in Misano, Andrea Dovizioso will reflect on a return to MotoGP in 2022 by studying the potential of RS-GP a little more closely.
On the Tavullia side, we will formalize the Saudi colors Aramco on the Italian machines of a factory Ducati who also decided to rely on the VR46 academy for the designation of pilots. This is a decisive step for the Vale project born from a ranch with a dirt track around it… A leap forward which is also worrying in Italy. Observers point out that with this new dimension of VR46, the epicenter of activity Valentino Rossi moves towards managing and representing a team. That's what Aramco wants in exchange for his 20 million euros investment, a sum on which rumor agrees and which represents almost double the market value for a team with the same characteristics.
When the economic effort takes on these dimensions, it supposes a step beyond sponsorship, that is to say a sort of propensity towards partial “command” of the Saudis. The fact is that with such a budget, the team VR46 got the Ducati official for Luca Marini, which will also benefit from the arrival of the chief technician who currently works with Rossi, David Munoz. A strong and clear signal, both on the intentions of the Italian team, and on the future of Valentino, whose retirement from racing at the end of the season seems to be awaiting only official communication.
All the details of the new equipment which will rise from the ashes of that ofAvintia will nevertheless not be known and we will probably have to wait until August, if not September, to get to know the pilots. It seems certain that Ducati will supply at least one 2022 Desmosedici, which should go to Luca marini. Because the drivers will be chosen in the academy, unlike what happens at Pramac.
Rossi and Dovizioso still have answers to give
« At the top of the list is Bezzecchi, but we will have to see how the next races unfold and understand his intentions “, explained Valentino at the Sachsenring. In the ranks of the Academy, however, there are no other pilots ready to take the plunge in this way, knowing that Vale himself has assessed as an asymptote of zero the possibility of finding himself behind the helm again. 'a Ducati.
A few kilometers further from Tavullia there is a Misano circuit, where Dovizioso will be engaged on theAprilia. This is Dovi's third test in the RS-GP, after the first contract taken in April at Jerez and the rain tests at Mugello in May.
The three-time world vice-champion has not yet decided on his future, although he has agreed to further tests on Noale's bike, to keep in shape on a MotoGP and give his indications. However, we will no longer have to procrastinate too much for Dovi, Aprilia having already indicated that his patience was not ductile. There is a free place, because for Aprilia at the moment the only certainty is called Aleix Espargarò, while for the second motorcycle the alternatives are to continue trusting Lorenzo Savadori or to attract young people from Moto2. As Joe Roberts.
Dovi would nevertheless be perfect, both for the results it would guarantee and for its contribution to the development of increasingly competitive motorcycling. But paradoxically not necessarily more attractive. The proof with a team Gresini having chosen Ducati despite a good proposal to continue with Aprilia who will therefore remain with two motorcycles. As Suzuki.
By the way, the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli will also welcome the test drivers for two days of testing Honda, KTM, Ducati et Suzuki. TheIt will be possible to attend for free from Tribuna C. entering from the entrance to MWC square, via del Carro. The stand will have a capacity of 500 spectators in compliance with anti-covid rules and will be closed when the required number is reached. The Misano World Circuit is the first circuit in Italy to open to the public with free access to all. LThe Octo Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera is scheduled from September 17 to 19.
