Marco Bezzecchi, the rookie rider of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team, looks behind the scenes of his 2022 season, his first and that of the entire team in MotoGP. There he obtained the title of Rookie of the Year, a goal he had missed in Moto3 and Moto2, but which he achieved in the premier category in Australia, two races before the end of the season. A prestigious result for the entire Mooney VR46 Racing Team, a crew made up of young technicians and mechanics, many of whom come from lower categories or are starting in new positions and responsibilities, but also some very experienced professionals, like the two team leaders, both closely linked to the past of Valentino Rossi.
Luca marini thus benefited from his brother's former team leader, David Munozas Marco Bezzecchi worked this year with Matthew Flamigni, the former data engineer having worked with the nine-time Italian world champion for almost twenty years. Certainly, this was his first role as team leader in 2022, but the man is seasoned enough to have allowed the long-haired Italian to fight throughout the season with his more experienced teammate one year in MotoGP.
The season of Marco Bezzecchi can be summarized in twenty races on his Ducati Desmosedici GP21, a triumphant Sunday at Assen with a second place under the checkered flag, a pole position at the Chang Circuit, a 4th place at Phillip Island (first among the Independents) after a fierce GP contested and the comeback which left him very close to the podium in Malaysia. In total, a 14th place in the general classification with a total of 111 points and ten places in the Top10: for a first year, hats off!
The driver, barely 24 years old, born in Rimini, looks back on all the elements of this season.
The 2022 season…
« The results of this 2022 are certainly positive: as a Team, we have grown and we have taken a big step forward during the season. We finished in the best possible way, we were really competitive towards the end and we had some very solid results.»
The title of Rookie of the Year…
« When I think about it, what a rookie season in MotoGP! A podium, a pole, numerous times in the Top10. Not bad for a category that I dreamed of since I was little and that I watched on TV. The Rookie of the Year title was a goal from the start, but without much pressure. I really wanted it because it was my last chance to get this recognition after missing it in Moto3 and Moto2.
We are a team of rookies in every sense: a lot of guys come from Moto2, others, like Matteo (Flamigni, team leader), have played a different role. The boys impressed me because they grew up in a very short time, with incredible speed. Here's our secret: they took the step before me and were able to give me the support and the bike I needed. Luca's team also did something unique, the whole team is fantastic. »
The first steps with the Ducati…
« The first time on the Ducati was incredible. Fantastic feeling, speed and acceleration are evident. I was also very impressed with the braking, you don't expect that. »
The trigger in Assen…
« Something happened in Assen: from that moment I started to push even harder to be able to experience more days like this with the whole team. »
The end of the season...
« I didn't expect to win the rookie title with two races left. I had the first chance in Thailand. It was difficult, but after the pole, I believed in it. Unfortunately, in the race we scored much less than expected, because the weather surprised us. Once in Australia, however, the atmosphere was much more relaxed. Phillip Island is a track I've always loved, I wanted to have a great race, without thinking too much, and we achieved our goal on Sunday.
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The 2022 MotoGP Championship…
« An unprecedented year 2022: the level of motorcycle and rider packages is very high. All bikes are practically factory, the differences between official and independent are minimal, everyone can be competitive. The best grid ever! »
