During the last meeting in Barcelona, Valentino Rossi finally confirmed that he would indeed be there in 2021 on the MotoGP grid, with the Malaysian Petronas colors and a state-of-the-art Yamaha. But in Catalonia, the rumor also concerned the Doctor's troops united under the VR46 banner. The name of his half-brother Luca Marini is in fact in the conversations about the second handlebar within the Avintia Ducati team, which is however not officially up for grabs since Tito Rabat is a priori the holder until the end of 2021 ...But we need to look broader to understand the future plans of the men of Tavullia...
On his own career, Valentino Rossi did what was necessary to mark its continuity, by initialing a contract integrating him into the team Petronas, manufacturer's satellite Yamaha . But the Doctor also recalled that, for 2022, many things remained open. And not just for him alone. For its emblem VR46 also.
The latter should sooner or later appear in MotoGP. In what conditions ? That's my whole question. And she sits down with the file Avintia Ducati. The Spaniards are said to intend to withdraw. Which opens up an opportunity. Ducati observe the situation. As for Rossi, he knows that Suzuki is desperately looking for a solution to finally structure its own satellite team.
And who do we find at the helm of the destiny of the Hamamatsu manufacturer, who can be proud of its current GSX-RR? Some Davide Brivio. It doesn't take much for some to imagine Valentino Rossi rebuild the historic partnership with the latter, this time as VR46 team manager of a possible future satellite team Suzuki.
The VR46 structure has acquired its letters of nobility
It was he who brought Valentino Rossi at Yamaha in 2004, thus marking the golden age of the recent history of the tuning fork brand. Despite signing with Petronas for 2021, Vale has already started thinking about the longer-term future. And in two years, when he will probably hang his helmet on a nail, he could devote himself full time to his VR46 team.
The objective would be to bring it, after Moto3 and Moto2, also into MotoGP, as a satellite team of a major manufacturer. Like Suzuki… Davide Brivio says he is cautious about this scenario: “ before thinking of a solution, you must make a satellite team project and have it approved by the Japanese », he explains on the microphone of Tutomotoriweb, who are " although today it is very different from the past. Then, once this is done, we will look around and negotiate with existing teams, who will be in the market with ».
More Brivio also blurts out: “ I don't know what Valentino wants to do, but in Moto3 and Moto2 they are doing a great job, with many victories, two world championships already won and another possible this year. JI believe that at VR46 they have gained very useful experience and that they have the experience and structure to do so ».
Furthermore, the current number one of Suzuki never forgot the lessons learned from his long association with Rossi : " I learned a lot from Vale » he said, “ I will always be grateful to him for the successes we achieved together, but also for transmitting and making me understand what it means to aim for something important, which is very different from participating in trying to do your best. And I try to share that with those who work with me ". For the moment, he seems to be doing quite well...
