Saturday January 25, 2025, 12:30 p.m. Paris time, it is time to discover the new colors of the Valentino Rossi team engaged in MotoGP. Indeed, the VR46, unveils its Ducati, including an official one since Fabio di Giannantonio, unlike Franco Morbidelli, will have the same bike as Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez. Something which positions him, so to speak automatically, in the role of challenger to the Factory drivers.
Here is the official presentation, in video, broadcast last Saturday.
MotoGP: Di Giannantonio, the surprise guest in 2025?
It remains to be defined whether he will manage to take part in the fight against these two “monsters” of the premier category, with the only victory on his emerging track record.
My journey is quite particular”, declared Di Giannantonio on the official MotoGP website, ahead of yesterday's presentation. “When I was young, I never had a plan B in mind. I always wanted to be a MotoGP rider. And when I arrived here, I always believed in myself and in the work we were doing. I always believed I could do it. It's something that I realized that I have in my life, I believe very strongly in things, I like to dream and try to achieve these dreams. Finally, more than a dream, it’s a goal that I like to set and achieve.”
“That's what we did last year: when I practically had no more handlebars, we asked ourselves what the objective was and it was for me to progress as a rider. So I tried to improve as much as possible as a driver and do my best. Once that was done, we asked ourselves what the next goal was and that was to try and find a handlebar and we got it, even though it was really last minute. Then the goal for the 2024 season was to be consistent and reach a high level in every race, and we did that.”
MotoGP: full dates and presentation times for 2025 liveries – Le Mag Sport Auto
“I love setting goals and working to achieve them, because I truly believe anything is possible. It's not something you read in books, it's true. When you see someone doing extraordinary things, it's a person like you, with two arms and two legs; it's just a person who set a goal, who worked towards it day and night, obsessively, and who made it possible. And if he did it, you can do it too. That’s what I think and I’ve tried to apply that mentality to racing.”[…]
Here are the photos shared by the Italian team as well as the reactions of the drivers and executives of the transalpine team.
« It's good to be in Indonesia and start the team here“, exclaims Fabio di Giannantonio. “In this part of the world, people are so passionate about our sport. It's amazing to see so many people cheering for us and it's great to have so many Indonesian fans. Our new livery is incredible, we've taken a big step forward with these little details this year. Concerning the shoulder, I'm recovering quite well from the operation, it was tough. I think I'm at 85%, but during the winter we worked a lot, and I think I should arrive at the first race of the season at 100%. I have a new teammate, Franky! I'm looking forward to working with him, I think I can learn a lot from him, he's a rider who has won many races, he was world champion and vice-champion in MotoGP ».
« It's great to start here, launch the team and have the first tests in Indonesia” confirms Franco Morbidelli, the new recruit. “This part of the world is becoming more and more important for motorsports, especially motorcycles. There's a lot of passion, it's incredible to stay in touch with the people here and to be able to talk to them. It was great to see my 21 on the new bike too, the colors are beautiful and I love the shadow of the 46 behind the number. The livery is truly magnificent! It's a new team for me, but I already know everyone. Riding for Valentino Rossi's team is incredible; he improved motorcycle racing. There's a fantastic atmosphere and I think that's one of the team's strong points. There are certainly many more, and I will discover them during the season. In 2025 we aim to improve on last year's results, we have a very good package thanks to Ducati. I get along well with Fabio, we've known each other for a long time, he drives very fast, and it will be important to work together to get good results for the team ».
-MOCHAMAD IRIAWAN, PRESIDENT COMMISSAIRE DE PT PERTAMINA (Persero)
« Pertamina proudly supports the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing team, which represents Indonesia on the international motorcycle sport scene. This collaboration not only highlights the quality of local products, such as Pertamina Enduro lubricants, which have been recognized by one of the prestigious MotoGP™ teams, but is also a strategic step to showcase Indonesia on the global stage. We hope that this initiative will inspire the younger generation, boost the development of domestic motorsport, and strengthen Indonesia's position as a country capable of delivering world-class innovations. Let's embody the spirit of national pride on the global motorsport stage! »
WERRY PRAYOGI, PRESIDENT DIRECTOR OF PT PERTAMINA LUBRICANTS
« It is an honor for Pertamina to welcome the VR46 team to Indonesia. Our collaboration with the VR46 Racing team is a strategic step to support our vision of becoming the leading champion in the lubricants industry, both in domestic and international markets. “As we enter the second year of this partnership, we are confident that this collaboration will bring substantial benefits to Pertamina and all our stakeholders. On this occasion, we are honored to present the latest livery of the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team racing motorcycle, showcasing our dedication to innovation and our commitment to compete strongly in the upcoming MotoGP season“.
ALESSIO SALUCCI – TEAM DIRECTOR
« This is the first time we are launching the team in Jakarta. In Indonesia there is a lot of support for MotoGP and for our team. We also wanted to come here to thank Pertamina for the great support in 2024. The hospitality they gave us was so special from the first minute. Last year we suffered a bit, but I have high expectations for this year, because we have a renewed package, with Fabio Di Giannantonio who was very fast and Franco Morbidelli who was runner-up in the MotoGP world and Moto2 world champion. This year's goal is to fight for the top 6 and we can't wait to get started. It's our first year as a Ducati factory-supported team, we will have more pressure, but we have to be good at handling it. We are very happy about it. The new livery is similar to last year's, but with some special details. There is Valentino, with its iconic symbols ».
PABLO NIETO – TEAM MANAGER
« The launch in Jakarta is incredible! We have been welcomed amazingly, they make us feel at home every time we come here. This year the relationship with Ducati is a step forward, for us being a factory supported team is very important, it means we have more pressure and we can do better because we have the best bike on the grid . The goal is to continue to progress and we know we can reach the podium every weekend with both drivers. Diggia has the possibility to be in the top 3 in almost every race, and with Franky we will have many opportunities because he already knows the bike. However, as a team we will need to keep our feet on the ground ».
Article published on 01/26/2025 at 6:10 a.m.
