Rossi's VR46 team will form on the MotoGP grid in 2022

In a note sent to the media, the energy company, which is part of the Tanal Entertainment holding company owned by Saudi Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Saud , celebrated the agreement reached with VR46 , which expires in 2026. The team itself is expected to ratify the link in the next few hours, before the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix officially starts this Thursday in Jerez.

” Saudi Aramco , a company that is already heavily involved in motor sports, including Formula 1, will also participate in the MotoGP World Championship from 2022 with VR46,” the statement read.

Aramco became in 2020 the first global partner that Formula 1 incorporated since Liberty Media took over the management of the championship at the beginning of 2017 and this year it will be the main sponsor of the Spanish F1 GP, at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya, of the May 9 to 11.

What is not yet known is the brand of the motorcycles with which the VR46 couple will race. Today, Luca Marini, Rossi’s brother, and Enea Bastianini, who is no longer part of the VR46 program, do so with Ducati and within the Avintia structure.

Waiting for Suzuki to decide once and for all to put another two prototypes on the track, something that becomes more unlikely with each passing day, the options that sound more feasible are to continue with Ducati or try to sign with Yamaha . The Borgo Panigale builder has already publicly shown his intention to maintain the six Desmosedici with which it currently competes. In the case of Yamaha, it remains to be seen if it extends its alliance with Petronas or seeks new partners, among which the new Aramco VR46 Racing Team can perfectly be framed.

As long as all the independent formations respect the commitment reached with Dorna , the championship promoter, and with IRTA, the teams’ association, the queen category grid for the coming year will once again have 24 motorcycles . VR46 has taken over the seats from Avintia, and Dorna has given Aprilia the two that it had in reserve, so that Gresini, who already signed its continuity last year –before Fausto, its founder and owner, died–, a new supplier will have to be found or wait for Aprilia to set up a satellite structure.