How the entry of VR46 in MotoGP alters the teams' plan

Until a few months ago, Il Dottore ‘s response when asked about the possibility of his team having a presence in the heavy motorcycle category was always based on evasiveness. “The costs in MotoGP are skyrocketing, and we are not in a position to face it,” he repeated over and over again, even knowing the predisposition of all the classes in the World Championship to make room for him.

The pieces finally fell into place with a view to 2022, and thanks to Aramco , a Saudi petrochemical company, and the agreement to take over the place that until now corresponded to Avintia , Rossi will have an alternative in a few months to focus on when he decides to hang up the monkey . It would not be unreasonable for that to happen this season, given his lack of competitiveness and the apparent melancholy that he transmits: after the first four stops on the calendar he has only been able to add four points, a background that represents the worst start of his life .

In the same way that he has earned the right to stop racing when he feels like it, the landing of his company in MotoGP seems like the ideal stimulus with which to keep himself busy from that ‘day after’ that so many go through. many athletes once they retire.

In any case, it doesn’t matter if he assumes ‘de facto’ the controls of the project that bears his name or simply limits himself to its guardianship, because his mere entry on the scene has already had consequences. Above all, in the independent formations that have not yet closed the motorcycles with which they will compete during the period between 2022 and 2026 . Apart from VR46 , these are basically two: the Sepang Racing Team (SRT) and Gresini . LCR’s relationship with Honda expires at the end of next year and Pramac has everything discussed with Ducati to continue as its reference satellite team.

Uccio Salucci , sports director of VR46, stated last week, from Jerez, that the idea was to announce “in about ten days” the identity of the manufacturer that will supply these bikes. Paolo Ciabatti , his counterpart at Ducati , confirmed to Motorsport.com that the Borgo Panigale-based brand had open negotiations with both Gresini and VR46. Yamaha only emits silence, a circumstance that could lead to the conclusion that the renewal with SRT can be taken for granted. But unless the contract is signed, that would be too much to assume given Rossi’s influence and his new business interests.

That Yamaha chose Fabio Quartararo to occupy the Monster Yamaha garage together with Maverick Viñales with a view to this 2021 did not sit well with the Tavullia rider. However, he is skilled enough to know how to put aside any grudges he may still have, to play for his ‘new team’.

If we are guided by the testimony of Razlan Razali, director of SRT, there should be no doubt about the extension of the current agreement, probably with nuances: Franco Morbidelli (he has a contract until 2022) would have a state-of-the-art M1. “We have been talking with Yamaha since December, and we already have the draft of a renewal for another five years (2022-2026). I think we can close it between May and June”, commented Razali at the beginning of March, before the championship began, and more importantly, before the irruption of VR46 materialized. “We will see what happens, because with Valentino you never know. We all know the role it plays”, they now slide from the structure sponsored by Petronas , which also has to confirm that it continues to decorate the motorcycles, even though that can be considered a mere formality given the ties that exist with the Malaysian oil company.

In recent months, both Petronas and VR46 have knocked on Suzuki ‘s door to find out if the big S brand will finally decide to put together what would be its first satellite team, which has been talked about for years. If we look at the moment of the course we are in and the few signs of movement coming out of Hamamatsu, everything seems to indicate that those of Joan Mir and Álex Rins will continue to be the only two GSX-RRs on the grid.

“It is in the hands of the top leadership, in Japan, which is where everything is decided. It is difficult, but it is not completely ruled out yet, ”they responded to Motorsport.com this week from Suzuki.

Thus, if we consider the most likely scenario, SRT should continue with Yamaha. And given the unwillingness of the Japanese supplier to put another two bikes on the track (there would be six), that would cause VR46 and Gresini to play which of them will ride with Ducati, and which will ride with Aprilia . And, again, common sense may not reflect what it seems due to the squabbles that have occurred between Gresini and the house of Noale throughout the seven years that their relationship has lasted. One of the last, the one that confronted them after Aprilia tried to take Fabio Di Giannantonio to MotoGP without taking into account the Italian’s relationship with Fausto Gresini’s team, who died last February due to COVID-19.

Despite this, the economic muscle of VR46 is much higher than that of its competitor, and that undoubtedly works in its favor in the pulse that they should maintain to take over the Desmosedici. That, as long as Rossi does not surprise with any of his tricks, those that many drivers have suffered throughout his 26-year career as a driver, and that he will surely now transfer to the offices.