MotoGP: Marco Bezzecchi extends his contract with Mooney VR46

Marco Bezzecchi will continue with the Mooney VR46 team in 2024.

Marco Bezzecchi will remain in the Mooney VR46 team next season, continuing to ride the successful Ducati Desmosedici GP. The Italian from Rimini will continue with the VR46 squad which he has raced for since 2020 in Moto2.

It is not announced who Bezzecchi will have as a teammate next year, with rumours suggesting that it will continue to be Luca Marini. Bezzecchi and Marini have been teammates since the start of the 2022 season.

Currently, Bezzecchi is third in the MotoGP World standings, fighting for the title in his second year in the class. The 24-year-old has taken five podiums throughout the season, including two race wins. The first race win of his MotoGP career came at the 2023 Argentinian Grand Prix, after coming close last year in Assen.

This extension rules out the possibility of Bezzecchi moving to Pramac with Franco Morbidelli looking to switch from Yamaha.

Marco Bezzecchi said: “I am really happy to confirm that in 2024 I will be on track with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team. This Team has been crucial to my career until now and into the future.

“I arrived here in 2020, in Moto2, we then landed together in 2022 in MotoGP and this year we had an incredible season so far. Continuing to grow in this working group, with the support of Ducati, is the most natural choice for me.

“2024 brings with it many expectations, but right now I want to focus on this season. We are currently fighting for the podium in the Championship, we have the Team Title open with Luca and I am sure that everyone in the Team will give their all, even more than they have done so far, to achieve these goals.

“Thanks to Vale, Uccio, Pablo, the VR46 Riders Academy and all those who made this possible. Remaining in the Vale Team is a great motivation as well as a pride”.

Pablo Nieto, Team Manager: “As a Team Manager, the human aspect of a working group that spends most of the year away from home has always been a crucial aspect to take into consideration.

“The reason that pushed us to do our best to reach this agreement to extend the contract for another year with Marco. A rider who has really impressed from all points of view since his debut in the Top class in 2022.

“The signing of this contract is a source of great pride for me to share with all the people who work in the Team, with Vale, Uccio, Ducati, who will support us as best they can, and our partners who make this possible. We continue to work and stay focused: we have two important goals to achieve this season before thinking about 2024.”

Image credit: motogp.com