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For the VR46 team, these winter tests have had two faces: one positive with the fine performance of newcomer Franco Morbidelli, the other less so with the injury of Fabio Di Giannantonio who crashed at the end of the first day of practice in Malaysia and was forced to return to Italy for shoulder surgery. Taking stock of the situation is team manager Pablo Nieto.
Pablo, at the tests there is no Fabio Di Giannantonio injured at the last tests, but Franco Morbidelli is working well.
"Yes, these two days of testing that we have done are important," Nieto began, "we are starting to work in view of the race. In my opinion we are doing good tests, Franco last year in the last 5-6 races was very competitive fighting in the top 6, he was in a positive moment despite the fact that on the other side of the box there was a rider who was fighting for the world championship. Having the same bike this year is a positive thing with all that entails, and it could give us an advantage at the beginning of the season."
What sort of rider did you find in Morbidelli, someone who was coming from a difficult season that began with a serious injury.
"Starting a championship like that, without knowing either the bike or the team is difficult, and today in MotoGP losing such crucial testing and training can be a problem. As a rider we know him well, he is part of the Academy, we know how he works and we see his potential. Of the guys in the Academy he is the one I have worked with the least, so we started in Barcelona. I am happy to work with him, he is a great person irrespective of the competitiveness he is showing these days."
The Ducati factory riders have opted for the GP24 engine. Can this choice favor Franco?
"Nothing is confirmed yet, however, yes, if the GP24 and GP25 were very similar this increases Franco's chances for this season. The Ducati is still the benchmark bike in MotoGP and we will have to take advantage of this strength."
As of this year, Team VR46 has become Ducati's reference satellite team with a factory bike for Di Giannantonio. What has changed in the team?
"We have made a 360-degree change, it may not look like it but being a factory supported team makes a difference. We are no longer a satellite team but a factory team, because the support has changed. We have four engineers from Ducati at our disposal, it's a different world and for us it's a new challenge, a new pressure, but we like it and it's nice to have it."
Fabio Di Giannantonio is absent due to injury, are you a bit peeved at this?
"A lot, because we knew we could do very well with him. On the first day of testing in Malaysia, after three months of not getting on the bike he was immediately very competitive. Unfortunately there was the injury, but he has a lot of enthusiasm and desire to come back, we had to stop him because he wanted to be here at the tests. We think it's more important for him to arrive in shape for the first race. We know he will not arrive at 100 percent so it will be a kind of winter test for him."
What did Valentino ask you before the start of this season?
"He asked us what we all ask: first of all to have fun, because if we do that means we are doing well. We have everything we need to do well, a competitive bike, good sponsors, the support of Ducati and Valentino, and of course competitive riders. All these things make me think that we have the potential to do something important this year."
Last year Bezzecchi had difficulties, but you predicted that Bezzecchi would go to an official team in a few years and it happened.
"Unfortunately in this sport it happens to have difficult moments, however what Marco showed in his first year in MotoGP there are few who have done it, those who have made a difference, and in my opinion he can be one of those. We are also seeing these days on the Aprilia, and I am happy for him. Last year was complicated, especially coming from a very good year like his 2023, but improving was difficult and the gap between the GP23 and GP24 was substantial. I've always been impressed with his talent, riding motorcycles the way he does makes it look easy."
What do you think of Marc Marquez in the factory team?
"I know him from the outside having never worked with him. We know he is a really strong rider, this year he will be one of those riders to keep as a reference point, because he will be one of those who will fight for the world championship."
You manage two riders in the VR46 team, how do you manage a team with Bagnaia and Marc Marquez?
"I would not like to be in Tardozzi's shoes, but I would like to be in that situation, because you can compete with both riders. Obviously it's hard to maintain a great relationship when you're fighting for something as important as a MotoGP world championship. Now between the two of them there is that relationship of confidence that is normal at the beginning of the season, but if the two of them fight for the world title in this championship I think the relationship will not be so serene anymore, as has historically happened before. I wish I had the same problem between Franco and Diggia. It's a matter of figuring out how to handle this issue in the best possible way."
Fabio Di Giannantonio has had some good results after being in danger of leaving MotoGP. Do you think he can follow the same path as Bezzecchi or will it take longer?
"I think Fabio has great potential, with him we still miss fighting for something big, he got some results and now he has more experience on a MotoGP which is important. Above all, he has a lot of desire and hunger and this is important and positive, but it has to be managed because it can lead you to make mistakes, and that's what we are working on."
Who are your rivals on the track, Gresini's Ducatis or are you aiming for the factory team?
"It's hard to say, at the beginning of the year you set goals but then at the end of the year you start to think that what is not enough. Obviously all Ducatis will be our rivals, Alex Marquez has a lot of experience, he is world champion and knows what he has to do. The same goes for the factory team, with two benchmark MotoGP riders like Pecco and Marc. In my opinion we have to stay there without making noise, we can have fun and try to be protagonists every race on Sunday."
You are a team that has helped many riders grow, like Bezzecchi now in Aprilia or Marini now in Honda. In the future will you continue with this philosophy by dedicating yourselves to young riders or will you open up to something different?
"This project was born for that, to bring young Italian guys from the Italian and Spanish championships and Moto3 and take them to MotoGP. We so far have succeeded in that, even with Pecco and with Morbidelli, and that makes us happy. Open the door to something different? Why not, although it's not time yet. We have to see year by year what will happen, closing ourselves off though would be a mistake, I think we have to stay with an open mind about it."
Is there a rider you are intrigued by and would like to work with in the future?
"Migno! But we already have him with us although in a different capacity. It's difficult, there are many young guys coming up. Thinking already now about a rider who might come in the future doesn't make any sense, because I think today we have to give 100 percent for the ones we have, and by doing so we could be several years together. There are several interesting riders among the Spanish, of course there is Acosta, but also Lopez and Alonso from Moto 2 but we are not there yet."
In the future there might be the possibility of Acosta in Ducati, who could come to you.
"You should ask that question more to Dall'Igna than to me! - joked the team manager - but now it's premature, I honestly think that with the two riders we have we can do really very well."
You've worked with Pecco and seen him become champion, what advice would you give him?
"He needs to keep it up. His strength is how much he believes in himself, that's what makes the difference to a rider. You have to have the mentality of being the best rider in MotoGP, then as with everyone there can be good times and bad times. In my opinion, he can fight for it this year."
