THE YELLOW ERA: THE MOONEY VR46 RACING TEAM UNVEILS THE NEW BIKES AT THE ROSSINI THEATER AT PESARO

Common goals and a new synergy between Mooney and VR46 to achieve ambitious results in 2022. Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi show the colors of the Ducati Desmosedici GP together with the Kalex of Celestino Vietti Ramus and Niccolò Antonelli

Pesaro (Italy), February 24th 2022 – The curtain rises at the historic Rossini Theatre at Pesaro for the presentation of the 2022 season of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team, live this morning on all social media channels of the Tavullia team.

An almost oxymoronic conjunction, with a unique atmosphere and in a historical setting, the one staged at Rossini’s house of opera music: on the one hand the technology of the Ducati Desmosedici GP and the Kalex bikes, on the other the live performance of the G. Rossini Symphony Orchestra, who performed together with Dj Ralf for an unveiling full of emotions.

On the eve of the departure for Qatar for the real debut of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team (4/6 March), Pesaro, a city just a few kilometers from Tavullia, the beating heart of the new MotoGP and Moto2 project, becomes the capital of the two wheels for a day. A celebration of the Made in Italy racing passion, with Dj Albertino and Vic as presenters and in the presence of Valentino Rossi, Team Owner, who officially sealed the new partnership with Mooney together with Emilio Petrone (CEO of Mooney), Salvatore Borgese (General Manager – Commercial & Banking Services of Mooney), Alessio Salucci (Team Director) and Alberto Tebaldi (CFO).

Then space for the real stars of the racing season: the riders and motorbikes that will be on track with the new Mooney VR46 Racing Team design. After the more than positive balance in the first tests between Malaysia and Indonesia, and on stage together with the Team Manager Pablo Nieto, Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi can’t wait to get back at work on the yellow liveries of the Ducati Desmosedici GP, created by the VR46 graphics department. The fluorescent yellow and black of the VR46 mix with the ocher yellow and dark grey of Mooney for a game of contrasts that redesigns the graphics of the entire Team in a more aggressive and racing way. A theme that is also repeated on the Kalex of the Moto2 Team with Celestino Vietti Ramus and Niccolò Antonelli, together with the new Team Manager Luca Brivio, ready to be in the slipstream of the fastest guys.

Valentino Rossi, Team Owner Mooney VR46 Racing Team

“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 colors”.

Alessio Salucci, Team Director Mooney VR46 Racing Team

“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”.

Emilio Petrone, CEO of Mooney

“What is presented today is much more than a motorcycling team, but a real manifesto made up of values ​​such as excellence, Italian spirit, talent that two leaders in their respective sectors will bring with passion and determination to the tracks all over the world. As a great motor enthusiast, satisfaction and pride are worth double for me today and I am sure that Mooney and VR46 are only at the beginning of a journey that will lead both great satisfactions”.

Salvatore Borgese, General Manager – Commercial & Banking Services of Mooney

“The collaboration between Mooney and VR46 will give life to numerous initiatives dedicated to the consumer and business audience, with the aim of offering an increasingly broad clientele – in an omnichannel logic – advanced payments, banking and mobility services. The launch of the VR46 cobranded card, scheduled for 2022 summer, is only the beginning of a partnership dedicated to the excellence”.

Pablo Nieto, Team Manager MotoGP – 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 Brivio – Team Manager Moto2 – Mooney VR46 Racing Team

“It will be an interesting season: Celestino is in his second year in Moto2 on Kalex, he closed in crescendo in 2021, he did well in the preseason and we hope he can be competitive right from the beginning. A category jump instead for Niccolò: he has a very solid and experienced crew behind him, he has a good potential and the primary objective is to have fun, not have too much pressure and grow step by step. So many reasons to give our best, also to reward Vale, Uccio, Pablo and the VR46 for this great opportunity: I joined this Team many years ago, in 2014, and now it is a great pride for me to be able to cover this new role of responsibility”.

Luca Marini #10

“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 Top5 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 colors of the bike, they have always been those of the VR46”.

Marco Bezzecchi #72

“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 colors of Valentino and the VR46 family and the Italian spirit of Mooney and Ducati”.

Celetino Vietti #13

“It will be a season to be lived in one breath: a year of experience on my shoulders, a motivated work group, that of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team, and some really positive feelings after the first tests. I can’t wait the Qatar GP, one of my favorite tracks to test myself. The pace is good, the goal is to be as constant and precise as possible, crucial characteristics for being competitive in Moto2”.

Niccolo Antonelli #28

“A new category, a new Team, the Mooney VR46 Racing Team, and new motivation and desire to do well. We worked hard in the testing to get as ready as possible for the first race in Qatar. The Team is helping me to measure up with the new category and to be comfortable in riding: there is a lot to do, but we are not in a hurry. We continue in this direction, gradually in order to be competitive as soon as possible”.