The days pass in this summer break and as the time is conducive to reflection, observers review the events which marked the first part of the season. Among them, the fate of Valentino Rossi, who will give his answer on the sensitive subject of the essential choice he must make between retiring and continuing to race, for a 27th season and at 43 years old. A decision which, however, no longer belongs to him since a Saudi prince invited himself into the dance by taking an essential part in the VR46 MotoGP project. In Italy, we seem to validate the hypothesis that what could have freed Vale by giving him the means to stay in the paddock in another form turns into a golden prison condemning him to race again...
When the announcement came, the first feeling was that the move was perfect: the team VR46 de Valentino Rossi moved to MotoGP in 2022, with two motorcycles Ducati and title sponsor Aramco. The agreement with the Borgo Panigale brand was signed for a period of three years, for state-of-the-art Desmosedici, and a free choice of pilots from the academy was also a part of an ambitious global project.
However, it has since emerged that the title sponsorship agreement between Aramco and VR46 does not actually exist, despite the insistence of the VR46 camp. Since April, the Saudi oil giant has sent to the site Motorsport two statements denying any involvement with VR46, while the CEO of Aramco hammered home this version during the last Dutch Grand Prix where he was invited by… Pramac. Or the current flagship satellite team of Ducati who can only look with suspicion at the arrival of this VR46 device in the clan of the Italian manufacturer.
A special atmosphere but with essential issues which could well oblige Valentino Rossi to continue racing in 2022 with his own team in order to find sponsors so that his structure can be competitive, while he previously seemed certain to retire at the end of the season, given his sad results.
In Italy we are sorry, like Marco Melandri who on the Gazzetta Dello Sport commented : " no one expected such a modest season from him. The issues with the sponsor depend in my opinion of the prince requesting the presence of Valentino in the team ».
Rossi? “ Ending like this is not decent«
For its part, Dario Marchetti supports the trend: “ Valentino is a phenomenon, and it's wrong to see him like this. Also because we always remember the last part of a career. He is still very strong, because he is taken less than a second by the leaders, but to finish like that is not decent. I think if he wants to continue, the only possibility is with the Ducati Desmosedici. Also because it seems that the Arab prince wants Valentino on the team for image reasons. And I'm not saying that Vale is almost forced, but ultimately, if he wants to, he also has an excuse to continue. If he continues, he will be with Ducati, his team and his brother as a teammate: that's also a beautiful thing »
Speaking on MowMag we point out that the Desmosedici is no longer the bike he rode ten years ago… “ Exactly, it would also be an opportunity to redeem his relationship with Ducati, because the bike today is not the one he was riding at the time » answers the same Marchetti. “ Instead, it's probably a bike he would be even better on than the Yamaha, where he has all these issues that don't allow him to push to the max. Seeing him there could be good for him and the fans. Seeing it end like that would be a bit sad. »… The return to MotoGP will take place at the beginning of August on the Red Bull Ring.
