Home FR TV Photo/Video: VR46 unveils brand new livery for debut MotoGP season

Photo/Video: VR46 unveils brand new livery for debut MotoGP season

24/02/2022

With the 2022 MotoGP season not far off from its start, VR46 unveiled a brand new livery for its debut season in an online launch.

Mooney VR46 Racing Team have taken the covers off their 2022 MotoGP and Moto2 machines at the historic Rossini Theatre in Pesaro, Italy, as the team gets set to embark on their first premier class adventure with Ducati.

After a positive first couple of tests in Malaysia and Indonesia, Marini and Bezzecchi are excited to get their MotoGP campaigns underway on the yellow liveried Ducati Desmosidicis. The fluorescent yellow and black of the VR46 mixed with the ochre yellow and dark grey of Mooney redesigns the graphics of the entire team in a more aggressive and racing way. It’s a theme that’s also repeated on the Kalex’s of Vietti and Antonelli

Valentino Rossi, Mooney VR46 Racing Team Owner: “It has been a long way since Moto3, but now we are ready to make our debut in MotoGP with a VR46 team and four young riders who I know will give their 100%. It is the closing of a circle for me and also for all the people who have worked with so much passion on this project over the years.

“At the same time it is a great debut and the beginning of a new chapter of this beautiful story in MotoGP. We are here thanks to the support of all our partners and I am happy to welcome Mooney: we met this winter at the Ranch, there was an immediate feeling and now we find ourselves here on this stage with these beautiful bikes with our colours.”

Alessio Salucci, Mooney VR46 Racing Team Director: “I can only be satisfied to be part of this new project, which is not that new. A team that has come a long way, thanks to the support of Sky Italia, a long apprenticeship between Moto2 and Moto3 and which step by step has reached MotoGP. A natural evolution to be able to follow the best talents of the VR46 Riders Academy even more closely. We saw Luca and Marco grow up. An important commitment in MotoGP, but which does not obscure Moto2 where we will continue to work because we believe it is preparatory for our riders.

“It was the right time to take up this challenge, a new chapter of this book always under the sign of the Italian spirit and the DNA of VR46 and Valentino who is 100% involved. He has always been innovative and here too there is his mark. Special thanks to all of our partners who continue to believe in this project and a welcome to Mooney, who joins our family as a title partner. Without their support it would not have been possible to arrive here, we hope to be able to really repay everyone for their trust in the best possible way.”

Pablo Nieto, MotoGP Team Manager – Mooney VR46 Racing Team: “A beginning of an important season is so close to us, many expectations and a new Team that will make its debut in Qatar soon. Let’s start with the riders, each of them has to set a goal: on the one hand, Luca, who already has a year of experience in MotoGP, on the other Marco, a Rookie. Luca will hit the track with the Ducati GP22 factory motorcycle, he can have fun this year.

“Marco, on the other hand, can fight to be Rookie of the Year, he has great potential, but it will be difficult because he will compete with very talented and very fast riders coming from the lower classes. By our side there will be Ducati with whom we have begun to build a wonderful relationship, they welcomed us into their family and we speak a very smiley language. The crew has the DNA of VR46: many of the technicians and mechanics of this Team come from Moto2 and have worked with us for many years. An opportunity for growth for many of our guys, a further source of pride for me.”

Luca Marini: “It will be a very important season for me and the whole Mooney VR46 Racing Team: I have begun to become familiar with the new Ducati GP22 bike and to understand its potential in the last tests. The feelings are more than positive, the goal is to be able to consistently stay in the top group, fighting for the Top 5 and always stay in the Top10. I would like to arrive on the podium then, I know it’s a very ambitious goal but I have faith in my crew. The atmosphere is great, we had fun and I had a good time. I also really like the colours of the bike, they have always been those of the VR46.”

Marco Bezzecchi: “Qatar is just a breath from now and I will have to learn to manage the positive pressure that will come. It has been a long wait and the adrenaline is a lot now. I’m happy with how the tests went, of course I still have a lot to do, we have only done one race simulation so far and the first GPs will be challenging. I like the Team, they are close-knit and the atmosphere is good. The title of Rookie of the year is a great goal, more than anything else I’d like to fight for it until the end. It will be special get out on the track on this bike: it has the colours of Valentino and the VR46 family and the Italian spirit of Mooney and Ducati.”

Here’s some photos and video: