MotoGP: Luca Marini Confirms Seat in Valentino Rossi's Mooney VR46 Team in 2024

Mooney VR46 Racing Team have announced that Luca Marini will be returning for the 2024 MotoGP season, just in time for the home event for both the team and the rider. Marini, who now holds the seventh position in the overall standings with a total of 125 points, is regarded as one of the most consistent riders in the MotoGP championship. Consistently ranked among the top 10, the Italian rider has achieved a second-place finish in the Sunday race of the Americas Grand Prix, as well as a third-place finish in the Tissot Sprint of the Argentina Grand Prix. With nine more race weekends remaining in the championship, it is tough but not impossible to catch up to the top five drivers who are separated by just 29 points (Aleix Espargaro with 154 points). For the third year in a row, VR46's Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi will be competing in the premier class. 

MotoGP: VR46 on Luca Marini’s New Contract

As a result of Marini's new contract with VR46, the team's line-up is now complete for the forthcoming season. It was announced that Marini will continue to ride for Valentino Rossi's squad for another season before this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix. This is also Marini's home event. In 2021, Marini debuted in MotoGP with the Avintia team, although supported by the VR46. Following Avintia's demise in 2021, he joined Rossi's VR46 squad for 2022 with his old Moto2 teammate Bezzecchi.

MARINI 10 2024@VR46RacingTeam and @Luca_Marini_97 will have fun together for another year #MooneyVR46RacingTeam #MotoGP #LM10 #VR46 #SanMarinoGP pic.twitter.com/098LOSS1un

— Mooney VR46 Racing Team (@VR46RacingTeam) September 7, 2023

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Luca Marini on his new contract said, “Remaining in the Mooney VR46 Racing Team also in 2024 is for me a question of trust in a very close-knit working group, which has believed in me for many years. As a Team, we will do everything to achieve our goals the next season. Not only Vale, Uccio and Pablo whom I thank, but the whole technical Team that supports me and Ducati. Being among the protagonists of the 2024 season, fighting for the Championship as a rider and as a Team is certainly a real ambition.”

Alessio Salucci, Team Director said, “I am very pleased to be able to confirm that Luca will also stay with us in 2024. It will be the seventh season with the Team and this is a truly significant recognition of trust for all of us and all our partners who support the project. Confirming a growing Team with the support of Ducati has a symbolic meaning. Luca is a hard worker, always precise, focused on details and this is a real plus in today's MotoGP. Fast, constant and very solid, I think he has collected less than he deserved so far and I hope he can do his best in these remaining races and in the future.”

Pablo Nieto, Team Manager said, “Our 2024 line up is complete and I am very happy to have confirmed both riders. The extension of Luca's contract for another year means a big boost of confidence for everyone in the Team. A solid working group, with the support of Ducati, built two years ago and which, thanks to the commitment of everyone, including our partners, is achieving ambitious results. Luca is now a certainty in the MotoGP Championship, always constantly among the first guys and I'm sure he will be able to obtain many satisfactions in the future.”

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MotoGP: VR46’s 2024 Rider Line-up

With Marini's contract extension, VR46 now has its full 2024 season lineup. The Italian rider Bezzecchi, who had been connected to Pramac for some time, declared his intention to stay with the team before last weekend's Catalan Grand Prix. Due to Johann Zarco's two-year contract with LCR Honda, Ducati made it plain that the only way for him to race a factory-spec motorcycle next season was for him to join Pramac. While Rossi has been encouraging Bezzecchi to stay put, the Italian rider would rather continue with VR46 even if it means not having access to a bike built to the 2024 level.

Franco Morbidelli, another VR46 Academy rider, will likely join Pramac in 2024 since Bezzecchi has decided to remain in Rossi's team. At Pramac, Morbidelli will ride a factory-spec Ducati, much as Francesco Bagnaia rode to world championship glory in 2023.