Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team has showcased its new identity in an online 2024 MotoGP launch ahead of the season start.
Pure light on the Palariccione stage for the launch of the new MotoGP season of the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team. Milestone of the tenth year (2014-2024) for the VR46 Racing Team, sealed by the three-year partnership with the Indonesian giant PT Pertamina Lubricants which, through the brand Pertamina Enduro, gives the new naming to the Team. New synergy between two already established companies in motorsport ready to become a true point of reference in performance, endurance and technologies.
A 2023 to remember behind us, the best year ever in the Top class, with the fulfilment of a collective dream: the first victory in MotoGP and the third place in the Riders standings (Marco Bezzecchi ed.). Sacrifices, a big legacy and a long path over the years for achieving three victories, a total of nine podiums and ten placements in the Top 3 in the Sprint on Saturday. Consolidated goals for a 2024 to be discovered: on the one hand, Marco Bezzecchi, true revelation and absolute protagonist of the last Championship, on the other Fabio Di Giannantonio ready to debut with the neon yellow of the Tavullia Team at the MotoGP test in Malaysia, next February 6th, and then in Qatar for the first race (8-10 March).
Both on the Ducati Desmosedici GP and supported by a close-knit crew – working under the watchful eyes of its Team Owner, Valentino Rossi – and led once again by Alessio Salucci, Team Director and Pablo Nieto, Team Manager. A technical package of the highest level, which bears the Made in Italy signature of Ducati, World Champion motorcycle in the two-year period 2022/2023.
A real stroke of light illuminates the ambitions of the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team with a modern and cutting-edge graphic design, which brings back our memories, with its neon soul, to Tavullia. Aldo Drudi and Drudi Performance dress the fairings of the Ducati with ‘Fluo Stream’. Vale’s yellow, which goes beyond the mere concept of colour and becomes FLUO. Black disappears to make room for a shading from fluorescent yellow to white: a spark, electricity, a new concept of lifestyle.
In front of all the actors of the 2024 season, the Riccione stage shines. A luminous effect creates the right atmosphere to welcome the entire board of PT Pertamina Lubricants to Italy from Indonesia, in the person of Mr. Werry Prayogi (President Director of PT Pertamina Lubricants), and thus renew our trust to all the realities working on this project, as the VR46 Agency, and the partners who support us, among others, eBay, Comoli Ferrari and Monster Energy.
Valentino Rossi, Team owner Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team: “These 10 years have flown by since we started working on this project. At the beginning I was convinced that MotoGP was not our real goal, people around me pushed a lot, Uccio among the first ones. Things went well right from the start and last year was unforgettable, fantastic, everyone raised the bar. The first MotoGP victory in Argentina means the fulfillment of a collective dream.
“A lot of new things await us in 2024: a new title partner, a new rider together with Bez, Fabio, and a technical package of the highest level. I am very happy with the partnership with Pertamina Enduro, the Indonesian fans have always had great affection and respect towards me. Marco and Fabio are a new couple, but they are two very fast riders and two good guys. It’s been a very long winter and I can’t wait to see them on track in Malaysia and then in Qatar for the start of the season.”
Mr. Werry Prayogi, President Director of Pertamina Lubricants: “This marks a historic moment for Pertamina Lubricants. At Pertamina, we take immense pride in our association with the VR46 Racing Team. We believe, with confidence that they will undergo significant growth and emerge as a great force in the racing scene. As the market leader in Indonesia, we are stepping our game, elevating our position on the global stage.
“Our aim is to showcase that Pertamina Lubricants products meets up to world-class quality standards. This partnership goes beyond sponsorship; it is a strategic collaboration between two entities sharing a common vision of growth. Both Pertamina Lubricants and VR46 Racing Team aspire to become influential players in the automotive industry globally. We are committed to putting in the hard work and making the best efforts to realize this dream. We believe in our ability to achieve it.”
Alessio Salucci, Team Director, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team: “I remember the winter of 2013 when we started working on this project. It was a beautiful journey, it required a lot of commitment, but in 10 years we have achieved goals we can be proud of. We have always had the desire and motivation to do well and we celebrate this first decade with the arrival of a new partner. I’m very happy because Indonesian fans have always had great affection and admiration for Vale. I like to think that it is not a coincidence that we signed with Pertamina Enduro, there is a lot of enthusiasm and we will all give our best.
“In 2024 we will be to the track with the livery designed by Aldo Drudi who revolutionized the graphic soul of the team with the inclusion on the livery of our fluorescent yellow DNA. The best hope for starting this new adventure. From a technical point of view, with Ducati we have the best available package on the grid and Marco and Fabio are very fast. I know we’ll have fun!”
Pablo Nieto, Team Manager, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team: “It will be a special year, the Team’s tenth in the World Championship. How long road and how much satisfaction from Moto3 and then Moto2, up to MotoGP. The truth is that we still have a lot to learn, but this gives us the right motivation and determination to continue working and doing well. The pair of riders is new: I know Marco better, he is a great talent and he had an almost perfect season.
“It may happen again, but we must all learn from our mistakes. It will be Fabio’s debut instead, he is hungry, he finished well in 2023 and he has a solid team behind him. Ducati’s technical package is currently the best, we have maximum support from the factory and, having the previous year’s bike, we can make the difference in the first races.”
Marco Bezzecchi, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team: “It will be my third season in MotoGP and I am happy to be to the track once again with the same crew at Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team and riding a Ducati. I would like to do something similar to what we did in 2023: be competitive, consistent, get on the podium and have good races. I also really like the new livery, completely different, something that has never been seen in MotoGP. I expect a hard-fought Championship, of the highest level and with many strong riders and bikes. We can do two things: have fun and try to being among the protagonists.”
Fabio Di Giannantonio, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team: “I’m really excited, I can’t wait. For me it is the first year at Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team: we met at the Valencia test at the end of the year, when we tried the Ducati package that we will use this season and the feelings were immediately positive. We have a great potential to achieve our ambitions. The livery is crazy, you can notice it on and off the track. Wearing this yellow is a great honor for me. It will be an interesting start, there have been a lot of changes in terms of the lineup, riders and bikes. We all have to get settled, but it will be a great show!”
More photos: https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2024/01/24/gallery-pertamina-enduro-vr46-motogps-2024-launch/488013
MotoGP 2024 launches –
[Note: The story is as per press release]