VR46 still progressing on “very slow” Aramco MotoGP deal
VR46 team boss Pablo Nieto says the MotoGP squad is making progress with its Aramco title sponsorship for 2022, but “things are going very, very slow”.
Valentino Rossi will bring his VR46 team into MotoGP full-time from 2022 and will field Ducati machinery for Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi.
But the outfit’s genesis in the premier class has been plagued by controversy surrounding its title sponsorship, which was originally announced back in April as being Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco – something that was announced by Tanal Entertainment.
However, Aramco has issued two statements to Motorsport.com since then denying any involvement with VR46 and Tanal Entertainment – with the company's CEO saying as such during meetings at June’s Dutch TT.
Asked by Motorsport.com during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend what the latest situation was in regards to VR46’s deal with Aramco, Nieto said: “Like you know, we make in the past this agreement with Aramco.
“The things are going very, very slow, but we are on the way.
“This is the most important thing, we have to continue working and at the moment the thing that I can tell you is we are working on that.
“There are some delays that we have, but we are on the way and we are still working.”
Aramco proof of performance
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
VR46 has yet to make any official announcement on its signing of Bezzecchi from Moto2, and deliberately steered clear of making any statements last weekend to keep the spotlight on Rossi’s final MotoGP outing in Italy.
“We are excited because in the end we are coming with our own team completely from zero,” Nieto added.
“We start a really, really nice project. As everybody knows, we already know the riders, but this weekend is an important weekend for us, for the family because it’s Valentino’s weekend.
“So, we don’t want to say anything about that [2022 rider line-up].
“But everybody knows about the riders that are going to be in MotoGP and Moto2.
“We have to learn to improve, because it’s a new challenge for us. But I think we have very good support from Ducati, we are coming here to make very good things.”
Share Or Save This Story
MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed
A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?
What’s behind MotoGP’s right-hander chaos in Germany practice?
Valentino Rossi up there with Jordan and Messi among the greatest ever - Franco Morbidelli
Fabio di Giannantonio commits to KTM and opens the door for Nicolo Bulega at VR46
Uccio Salucci: 'VR46 is the top Ducati team right now'
Rookie Dennis Hauger and overcoming the uncomfortable feeling ahead of first Indy 500
NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2027 unveiled
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a largely throwback All Star Race idea
Kevin Harvick on Natalie Decker: "I don't like to see a mockery made out of what our sport is"
Why the Catalan GP chaos may finally force MotoGP riders to unite
What we learned from MotoGP's wretched Catalan GP
As Marquez sinks and Martin surges, Bezzecchi knows exactly who to beat for the MotoGP title
Five things we learned at the MotoGP French Grand Prix
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments