MotoGP: Luca Marini signs new deal with Mooney VR46 Racing Ducati for 2024

Ahead of the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano it has been confirmed that Luca Marini will remain with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team for the 2024 MotoGP season.

Marino has been involved with the VR46 Racing setup since 2018 in Moto2, a year in-which he secured his maiden podium (Sachsenring) and victory (Sepang). The Italian, half-brother of team owner Valentino Rossi, finished second overall in 2020 before moving to MotoGP.

Since then, Marini has been constantly improving onboard the Ducati Desmocedici, securing seven top six results in 2022 before securing his maiden MotoGP podiums earlier this season.

Marini finished third in the sprint race in Argentina, before going one better and finishing second to Alex Rins in the Grand Prix race at the Circuit of the Americas. After the opening 11 rounds of 2023 Marini is seventh in the championship

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,” Marini said. “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.”

The confirmation follows Marco Bezzecchi’s decision to also remain with the team next year, despite being linked with a switch to Pramac Racing and a 2024-spec bike next season – an option unlikely to be available with the VR46 squad.

“I am really happy to confirm that in 2024 I will be on track with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team,” Bezzecchi said last week. “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”.