During the presentation of his Sky Racing Team VR46 in Milan, Valentino preferred not to be present so as not to steal the spotlight from his drivers Luca Marini, Pecco Bagnaia, Nicolò Bulega and Dennis Foggia. So he appeared on video, explaining ““ I'm sorry not to be there with you but I want to send lots of luck to all the drivers, the team and the staff. I recommend: always thoroughly ».
Among the team's drivers, we welcomed the arrival of Luca Marini, half-brother of Valentino, who first cut his teeth in Italy as part of the CIV. He then participated in the European Moto2 Championship within the junior structure of the Sito Pons team. In 2016, he arrived at Forward Team for his debut in the Moto2 World Championship. In 2017, in the same team, he scored four top 6 finishes in the first part of the season, then finally finished fifteenth overall.
Now that you are on the team Valentino, do you feel a strong responsibility? Gpone.com asked him.
"I'm still the same, Luca said.. But I have more stimuli, it's like football teams: now I play for a top team, I have a group of competent people with me and I can work well with my team. »
“I feel the same responsibility that I felt before arriving at VR46, the results I achieve will be for me and for the team. We must commit to the maximum, always, that is the meaning of a pilot's career. »
Will this change anything between you and Valentino?
“The relationship between Valentino and I is the same as before, but now that I race for his team, he can devote more time to me and help me more. »
“He can only give me some advice now after several years of experience in the World Championship. My goal is to continue to progress this season, but calmly, learning even more secrets of Moto2. I can still do another year in this category: in 2019, I want to aim for the highest objective, that is to say the world title. »
You are in your third year in Moto2. What do you need to excel?
“The level of the drivers is very high. I followed carefully zarco et Morbidely, the last two winners, and stole all kinds of secrets from them, even the most imperceptible. When they were my rivals, they inspired me. Now that they are in MotoGP, they give me advice: they tell me that nothing should be left to chance in Moto2 and that every detail is essential. When the bike is not at 100%, you have to know the difference. »
“I go to the gym every day with the Academy boys, explains Marini – where together we follow a specific work program and, where I can play football with my friends from Tavullia. It will be essential to show up 100% at Losail, after the winter tests. »
“From a technical point of view we are very strong because it is a good team, perhaps the best team in Moto2, despite only one year of experience in the middle class. Along with Kalex and Ohlins, we are also working in the workshop to improve the bike and make it easier and more consistent to ride all season long. »
Photos © VR46 Riders Academy
Source: Mirko Colombi for Gpone.com et Corriere dello Sport
