The newly-formed Aramco Racing Team VR46 have confirmed a three-year deal to compete in MotoGP with Ducati machinery.
The Valentino Rossi-owned team will enter the premier class after signing a five-year deal with Dorna Sports, with three of those years, 2022-2024, running Ducati machinery.
The team has financial backing from Saudi oil giant Aramco, which becomes title sponsor of the outfit and forms part of Tanal Entertainment Sport & Media’s investment drive as part of the ‘Saudi Vision 2030’ scheme.
The independent team will run two bikes, with current SKY Racing Team VR46 team manager Pablo Nieto being promoted to head up the premier class outfit.
“Having the pleasure of welcoming Team VR46 to the MotoGP category in 2022 is exciting both for fans from all over the world and for the MotoGP paddock followed the incredible career of Valentino Rossi and the growth of the VR46 Riders Academy from the beginning,” remarked Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna Sports CEO.
“Valentino is and will continue to be a very important part of the FIM MotoGP World Championship and now, with his team arriving in the class MotoGP, his extraordinary legacy will continue to inspire new generations of riders and fans. We welcome them to the premier class and look forward to many great achievements in the future.”
Alessio Salucci, VR46 Riders Academy, added: “We are happy to announce that in 2022 we will race in MotoGP with a team of two riders in the colours of the VR46. A journey that began a little over eight years ago with the birth of the VR46 Riders Academy, a beautiful adventure shared with Sky, a long, demanding journey, but full of satisfactions and which makes us very proud. This milestone has a truly unique meaning, but it is not an arrival point.
“Year after year, since 2013, we have grown, we have managed to write beautiful pages of our sport between Moto3 and Moto2 and we crossed our path with many young talents of Italian motorcycling that we have had the privilege of being able to support in their growth path and that we will continue to support from the classes lower up to the MotoGP.
“A key moment in our history that would not be it was possible without Carmelo Ezpeleta who has always believed in this project and to Ducati for the trust he has placed in us for the future.”
The team hasn’t yet confirmed its rider line-up for the 2022 season.
