A series of events over the past few weeks revolving around a title previously considered a solid title sponsorship deal by his VR46 graduate team could mean Rossi will still race in 2022 and a VR46 Ducati with his brother Luca Marini as a team will use -mate.
The 42-year-old Italian will ride in Petronas SRT colors in 2021 after the Yamaha factory team decided to replace him this year with Fabio Quartararo – the current championship leader and leading contender for the premier class crown.
Rossi, seven-time MotoGP world champion, is going through the most difficult moment of his 26-year championship career in 2021. After nine Grand Prix races so far, he is in 19th place in the overall standings with only 17 points, the top 10 only once in Mugello.
The Friday of the final lap at Assen marked four years since his last win in 2017, while his final podium was at Jerez in round two last year.
PLUS: The signs that point to Rossi’s retirement in MotoGP
Since the start of this SRT project, Rossi has always insisted that he would only consider extending his MotoGP career if the results were what he wanted, which clearly did not happen. At Assen, Rossi claimed that after returning from summer break, he would share a decision about his future.
“I’ve always said that my decision depends on the results, it will be difficult for me to race next year,” he said.
Valentino Rossi, Petronas Yamaha SRT
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
That Thursday morning, VR46 confirmed the deal that made the team’s move from Moto2 to MotoGP as a Ducati customer official. Of particular note in the statement was a quote from Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Saud, the Saudi prince who was theoretically the driving force behind the deal with Aramco, the team’s main sponsor.
“It would be fantastic for me if Valentino Rossi could compete in the coming years as a driver for our Aramco Racing Team VR46 alongside his brother Luca Marini, who is already competing under the sponsorship of our brands this year,” he said in a statement who surprised Rossi himself.
However, in the past few weeks a number of events have emerged that are forcing him to extend his career, which doesn’t seem to be laughable due to his communication – both verbal and non-verbal.
At the Dutch Grand Prix, Aramco CEO Amin Hassan Nasser was one of Pramac’s guests at the race in Assen. Throughout the weekend, the senior executive held several meetings in which he made it clear that the company he heads has neither signed nor intended to sign with VR46
The root of the confusion comes from the theoretical contract, which stipulates that Saudi oil giant Aramco will become the main sponsor of VR46’s MotoGP project when it joins MotoGP in 2022. Since the news broke last week of April, the company has made no statement confirming the deal, merely Rossi’s statement that he has the approval of the prince who owns Aramco. In fact, all press releases on this new alliance are signed by Tanal Entertainment, a conglomerate of companies owned by the Saudi prince.
Since then, Aramco has repeatedly tried to distance himself from the alleged connection through various statements.
“Aramco, one of the largest energy and chemical companies in the world, confirms that it has not reached a strategic agreement with the VR46 MotoGP team or any other MotoGP subsidiary,” the petrochemical company said in a statement sent to Autosport.
This notice relates to Tanal Entertainment’s press release that was released on Wednesday April 28th without the knowledge of Aramco. Aramco has never entered into a commercial agreement with Tanal Entertainment, the MotoGP championship or any of the participating teams. “
Aramco signage in Imola for the F1 Emilia-Romagna GP 2021
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
In addition, Aramco CEO Amin Hassan Nasser was one of Pramac’s guests at the race in Assen during the Dutch Grand Prix. Over the weekend, the senior executive held several meetings in which he made it clear that the company he heads has neither signed nor intended to sign with VR46.
Following the arrival of Liberty Media as a promoter of Formula 1 rights in 2017, Aramco has expanded its presence at Grand Prix events and becomes one of the main sponsors of F1. As a newcomer to MotoGP, who are initially using Luca Marini and want to bring Marco Bezzecchi out of Moto2 as a driver pair, it is difficult to see that VR46 fits into Aramco’s sponsorship strategy without Rossi himself in the saddle.
At this point, one wonders what could have happened to get the maze to this point. It’s a mess that seems difficult to resolve, especially since Rossi has always been defensive when asked about the Aramco / VR46 deal.
“We walk in good faith, I speak to the prince often and everything is fine,” he remarked at Assen. It seems clear that there is a huge gap between the two sides’ perspective.
“I’d love to be wrong, but I have a feeling the deal didn’t go through,” a source privy to the mess told Autosport.
At this point, it would make sense for Rossi to consider joining his brother at VR46 to get the attention of sponsors who would make the project viable.
With everything that Moto2 race winner Bezzecchi would deserve a MotoGP place, the attraction of the # 46 is still infinitely greater than that of Rossi’s 22-year-old protégé.
Marco Bezzecchi, Sky Racing Team VR46
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images