Mango Bezzecchi’s Tough Choice: Ducati Bike or Valentino Rossi Team in MotoGP 2024

Jakarta – In the 2024 MotoGP season, Italian rider Marco Bezzecchi faces a difficult decision.

He must choose between staying with Valentino Rossi’s Mooney VR46 Racing, without a new bike or securing the Desmosedici for 2024, potentially leaving a team that has helped elevate his profile.

Bezzecchi has long desired a factory motorcycle, and Ducati acknowledges the need for riders to experience the latest Desmosedici. This is due to his two Grand Prix victories this season on the GP22.

Ducati’s Sports Director Paolo Ciabatti told Speedweek, “Honestly, Marco Bezzecchi could join Pramac, but it’s uncertain.” He adds, “On one hand, Pramac has an option to get current factory engines for two riders. If they exercise that choice, we respect it,”

However, Ciabatti reveals that due to internal constraints, only four factory riders can be supplied with the latest engines. This creates a challenge as manufacturing more would complicate matters, as happened in 2022 when Luca Marini received a fifth factory bike from Ducati.

This year, the remaining four bikes are with Pramac’s Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco, alongside manufacturer drivers Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini, making Bezzecchi’s wish to ride the latest spec unlikely unless he switches teams, potentially at the expense of Zarco.

The love for Rossi’s team makes the choice even more difficult for Bezzecchi, and it seems likely he will remain with Mooney VR46. His results with the team have been impressive, even using a Ducati last season, according to Ciabatti:

“Team VR46 is doing well. Bezzecchi, coming from Moto2, makes for a strong combination with two Grand Prix wins,” Ciabatti emphasizes.

Ciabatti leaves the final decision to Bezzecchi, allowing him to decide his future. “Now it’s up to him to consider the latest factory bike. The decision is his, and we won’t force it,” he concludes.