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The VR46 team has a relatively short history in MotoGP. It was founded in 2021 - in partnership with Avintia - and the following year was structured with two riders. It then took them only a handful of seasons to convince Ducati of their professionalism, and the result is that in 2025 they will be the 'factory supported' team, inheriting the role that Pramac had. Which means having an official bike (the GP25 that Di Giannantonio will ride) and one eye on it from Borgo Panigale. Clearly Alessio Salucci, the team principal, is proud of this achievement.
Uccio, what is different now in the team?
"The technical side has changed, engineers from Ducati have arrived, all those men I dreamed of. Absurdly, I am back to the past, but in a different role: I relive those feelings of when I was in Yamaha with Vale, I feel great desire and great competence, I have to say thanks to Gigi. It's a different story than before, we have more people and more spare parts. As a team it is a great honor, something very nice that fills our hearts with pleasure, and we feel like giving gas. In short, everything changes a bit, even the approach of our mechanics and technicians, there is more motivation and desire, logically there is also more work to do, but it is more exciting."
Martin and Pramac have shown that even a satellite team can win the riders' title. What does that mean to you?
"It gives motivation and pressure, but in my case I feel more the former. I had no doubt it could happen, we have seen the seriousness of Ducati allowing all its teams to fight for the title and win it. For us it's a great motivation, I feel like a child and I can't wait to get to Sepang. We have done a lot of work at home, getting to the office and seeing the official staff in our racing department is nice and it was not easy to obtain it. The pressure is there because we will have one of the 3 fastest bikes on the track. For me Ducati will be the bike to beat again this year, now we need to roll up our sleeves even more and show that we are aiming high."
Do you think then that the factory team could accept another defeat?
"I talk to Gigi a lot and I see him very motivated for our team as well. They will show for the umpteenth time their professionalism and I am sure that, should Di Giannantonio arrive at the end of the season fighting for the title, they will give us maximum support."
Now that they have Marquez, won't things change?
"When Ducati gives you the possibility to use that bike, they have already budgeted that you can get to fight for the championship. These are things that can happen, in fact I hope so (laughs). Dall'Igna, Domenicali, Grassili are serious people and I don't think that because they now have Marquez they will get in Diggia's way, they never have and never will."
How do you see the battle between Bagnaia and Marquez?
"Together with Martin they are the 3 strongest on the grid... I would not want to be in Tardozzi's shoes (laughs). Davide will have to be very good at managing two very strong riders. For me there is the strong rider and the very strong rider, Pecco is in the second category, he has something more and all the right cards to fight for the title against Marquez, Martin, and I'll throw in Diggia as well."
Will Rossi continue to help Bagnaia?
"The more Vale comes, the more he will help Pecco, although Bagnaia has already shown that he is tough psychologically, he has character. If he continues like this, it will not be easy even for Marquez to beat him."
Will Rossi be more present this year?
"Vale is more and more inside the MotoGP project, this year he will do fewer races in the car and wants to come to at least 6 or 7 Grands Prix. I'm happy because when he does he doesn't come on vacation, but he spends a lot of time in our box, with our riders. His presence is always important for us."
They say he would like Acosta on the team....
"First of all, I am sorry for what is happening in KTM, we raced with them in Moto3 and we have a good relationship. That said, Pedro is a fantastic rider, maybe the best young talent, but we have never seriously talked about him in our team."
Testing is just around the corner, are you ready to go?
"I'm excited because I haven't seen the GP25 yet and I'll be doing it for the first time in Sepang. Diggia is like a child, he can't wait to try it. It's definitely a great bike and Fabio is a fantastic rider."
Back in 2022 you had the official bike, with Marini.
"That was a strange year, because in testing there had been problems and the official bike had become a bit of a hybrid between the GP21 and GP22, while we continued with the 2022. We didn't have the same technical package as today, let's just say that now Ducati has clearer ideas."
Morbidelli arrives, what do you expect from him?
"I am very happy that Franco is with us, because he is a good rider, I know him well. At the end of 2024 he definitely improved a lot and needed something to change in his riding style. Our team is like a family for him and Idalio (Gavira, the team coach, ed.) will be able to help him, he has already started. I think it is the right team for Franco right now and we will give 100% for him."
Why only a one-year contract?
"The project with Franco is not just for one year. His contract is very clear, he will have the chance to move to an official team in 2026 if he gets the opportunity, but in my head we have started a project and I hope he will stay with us for several years. The idea is to do well with the GP24, then we will ask Ducati for an official bike for him in 2026 as well. He is coming off the back of 3 years that have not been easy for him, and that is why we want him to return to the top with us and stay at least two years."
Will the 2024 bike be able to make a difference at the beginning of the season? Last year there were problems.
"Our problem was the tires. The GP23 was a competitive bike, but the new rear tires had more grip and that created problems for the 2023, which already had a lot of it. It became complicated and put our team in a crisis. All season we didn't look for a setting to be fast, but to make it turn, Marquez succeeded and it made a difference. I think this year will be a bit like in 2023, when the GP22 was fast: the old bikes will go fast, at least on paper."
Only one Riders Academy rider is missing to bring to MotoGP: Vietti.
"It is too early to talk about MotoGP for Celestino, he comes from two difficult years where he suffered injuries. I was the one who wanted him in the Academy 10 years ago, but now it is too early. He must first have a good season in Moto2 with Boscoscoscuro, then we'll see."
