Avintia refutes rumours of 2021 takeover by VR46
Avintia owner Raul Romero has denied speculation Valentino Rossi’s VR46 organisation will buy its MotoGP grid slots for 2021.
Speculation has been around for some time that current Moto2 points leader and half-brother of Rossi Luca Marini will step up to MotoGP next year, taking Tito Rabat’s place at Avintia despite the Spaniard having a contract in place for 2021.
During the French Grand Prix weekend, reports in the Italian press stated VR46 intended to take over Avintia’s two grid slots next year, with team manager Ruben Xaus confirming the outfit was for sale.
“We changed many things, the team raised up to a point and we’ve seen it’s difficult to renew those places, we don’t have a real big budget, it was time to move apart, give the keys to somebody else,” Xaus said to Dorna’s world feed on Saturday.
“Raul himself has seen that, he’s 50 and has two kids in Andorra and is having a good life there doing many things.
“He offered the situation to the organisers and to a few investors and it seems the approach of somebody else to the team is there and the possibility is on the table.”
Avintia’s current contract with MotoGP promoters Dorna Sports does expire at the end of next year, as do the rest of the independent teams’ contracts.
But Romero has told Motorsport.com he will continue with the Avintia project in 2021, but confirms he will “not renew with Dorna” in 2022.
As for the possibility of Marini replacing Rabat, Romero says Rossi – like Rabat currently – will have to either pay for the ride or secure sponsorship for Marini to take to Avintia.
“Whoever wants to get on the bike, pay [for it] or bring a sponsor,” Romero told Motorsport.com.
“If Rossi wants to put his brother [on it] in 2021, let him pay.
“The same as when Tito came, or the same as [Karel] Abraham or [Xavier] Simeon came in his day.
“For his [Rossi’s] brother to run, he doesn't have to buy the seats, he just has to pay for the bike.
“In 2021, I will continue with the team, another thing is that in 2022 we will not renew with Dorna.”
It has long been thought Rossi’s VR46 team will be granted two grid slots by Dorna in 2022, which means a takeover of another team in 2021 wouldn’t make much financial sense.
Moto2 title hopeful Enea Bastianini is set to join Avintia next year in place of Pramac-bound Johann Zarco, though his deal – which is yet to be made official – is directly with Ducati rather than Avintia.
Le Mans MotoGP: Quartararo leads the way in chaotic FP3
Le Mans MotoGP: Quartararo takes first pole since Jerez
How Ferrari quietly sorted its core F1 engine reliability problem
Ferrari’s fluctuating form in the final races of the Formula 1 season – especially from struggles in Mexico to fighting Red Bull in Abu Dhabi – highlighted how critical engine performance was.
Espargaro: Honda "wasted time and money on me" in 2022 MotoGP season
Pol Espargaro believes Honda wasted "time and money on me" during the 2022 MotoGP season after the team stopped giving him new parts to test.
The physical focus bringing out the best from Esteban Ocon
Esteban Ocon likes to point out he’s the first driver since Lewis Hamilton to emerge from a spell as Fernando Alonso’s teammate with a superior overall points record. While some may disagree, as LUKE SMITH discovered, the 2021 Hungarian GP winner reckons it’s not just luck which has made him France’s pre-eminent Formula 1 driver of the moment…
Suzuka 8 Hours announces new August date to avoid WSBK clash
The 44th edition of the Suzuka 8 Hours has been pushed back a week to August 4-6 to ensure participation of top riders from the World Superbike Championship.
Was the MotoGP 2022 title won by Bagnaia or lost by Quartararo?
Reigning MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo had a 91-point lead over rival Francesco Bagnaia after the German Grand Prix, a seemingly impregnable gap to overcome in the remaining 10 races. But as the Frenchman struggled for pace with his Yamaha, Bagnaia stormed back into contention and swept to Ducati's first riders' title since 2007
Why there's more to Honda's 2023 MotoGP bike than the Valencia test suggests
After a run on Honda's 2023 prototype MotoGP bike, six-time champion Marc Marquez made his pessimism clear with his initial reaction. But the Japanese marque has made leadership changes behind closed doors - and a more representative bike promised for the Malaysia test in February could placate Marquez.
Why new MotoGP champion Bagnaia has a stronger character than it seems
While new MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia might not be the loudest rider on the grid, his calm exterior belies a steely backbone. His part in turning around Ducati's fortunes at the start of the year, when displeased with a new engine concept, shows the strength of his character.
Why Bagnaia's MotoGP triumph is as worthy as Stoner's Ducati breakthrough
OPINION: Despite the superiority exhibited by the Ducati in 2022, the context in which Francesco Bagnaia became MotoGP world champion means that both the rider and the Italian marque merit the same recognition that the brand and Casey Stoner received after their 2007 title
Why the 2022 MotoGP season had a bittersweet ending
OPINION: MotoGP’s fifth last round showdown of the modern era delivered a tense finale despite the predictable outcome, as Francesco Bagnaia ended 15 years of pain for Ducati. But as emotions ran high for the Italian marque, a final victory for a departing Japanese rival tinged the campaign’s conclusion with sadness.
Why the 2023 MotoGP title battle has already begun
Since Ducati announced the arrival of Enea Bastianini to its factory team for 2023, the staging of the four-time race winner has strained the atmosphere within the Italian manufacturer, which has raised its guard in anticipation of what may happen between him and championship favourite Francesco Bagnaia.
Why Yamaha has just six months to safeguard Quartararo's future
Yamaha's decision to dispense pre-season with the 2022 engine it had intended to use due to lack of reliability, the promises of improvement to Fabio Quartararo and the advance with which the rider market moves leaves the Japanese brand with less than six months to prevent the Frenchman from starting to look for a way out
The war brewing as Ducati nears its ultimate MotoGP prize
OPINION: Francesco Bagnaia has put one hand firmly on the 2022 MotoGP world title after winning the Malaysian Grand Prix, and the permutations are weighted heavily in his favour heading to the Valencia finale. But as Ducati stands on the cusp of something it has longed for since 2007, the Sepang race also hinted towards a future problem…