Valentino Rossi is to back a Moto3 team showcasing Italian talent from next season. The Italian will work with Sky Italia, the broadcaster who will be taking over the broadcast rights for MotoGP from next season, to field a pair of riders including current FMI Italia rider Romano Fenati on KTM machines. Sky Italia will be the main sponsor, while Rossi's VR46 clothing and merchandise brand will provide support and backing for the project.
The aim of project is to help bring young Italian talent into Grand Prix racing. This was also the aim of the Italian motorcycling federation when they set up the FMI Italia team with Romano Fenati and Francesco Bagnaia, but the FTR Hondas have been no match for the superior horsepower of the KTMs this season. The Sky Italia / VR46 team have elected to race with KTM machinery, giving them a better chance of fighting on an equal footing.
The confirmation that Rossi will back the Sky Moto3 team comes after weeks of intense speculation that the nine-times World Champion was preparing to get involved in Moto3. Rossi had denied reports that he would manage a team, a denial which is strictly true. Rossi's involvement will be at a greater remove, through backing from his merchandising company. Who will be involved in running the team is yet to be announced. The second rider alongside Fenati is also still to be announced, though speculiation continues to mount that Rossi will find a slot for his half brother, Luca Marini. Marini made his Moto3 debut at the last round at Misano, but crashed out on the first lap.
Comments
Good...
That's good news that Valentino is planning to help the sport (albeit with Italian minded intentions, but that's ok).
I wish Colin Edwards would do the same. I wish he would start-up a Moto2 team to bring in young American talent. Of course he doesn't have the deep pockets of Valentino, but he is so popular, I'm sure he wouldn't have too hard a time to get sponsorship, and he obviously has an intimate knowledge of paddock politics. Americans need a path into GP racing.
In reply to Good... by backmarker61
American sponsors are like
American sponsors are like Unicorns. The American public too interested in stick and ball. The only racing that draws them in is the sport where they run in circles and only go one direction.
In reply to American sponsors are like by BrickTop
I disagree
Monster Energy is an American company and is probably the second or third largest sponsor in the MotoGP paddock. I would guess that Repsol is #1 and Red Bull might be #2.
American founded and headquartered companies involved with MotoGP:
Hertz is the British GP's Title Sponsor and MotoGP's official rental car supplier.
Oakley is MotoGP's Official Eyewear Supplier and sponsors Rossi, Hayden and Stoner.
Stanley is the Official Hand Tool Supplier and Tech 3 sponsor.
DeWalt is the Official Power Tool Supplier and Tech 3 sponsor
FedEx is MotoGP's Express Supplier.
Kicker and Hayden Bros. General Store sponsor Nicky Hayden
I'm sure there are a few that I missed. As you can see, American sponsors are not "like Unicorns"....unless Unicorns are described as plentiful, necessary and generous.
Maybe it's all preordained for Marini
If memory serves, Rossi crashed several times on his first lap in his first race.
He seemed to recover nicely after that!
Awesome news!
Fair play to Vale.
This is exactly what Fenati needs, a competitive bike and money behind him. He was pretty impressive last year in his rookie year, write this year off to experience, & lets see what he does next year on a fast KTM!
In reply to Awesome news! by BoB-DoG
I was so excited to hear this!
Feni 5 is my favorite Moto3 rider and its excellent news that he'll actually be on competitive machinery next season. Even with the Honda he has had respectable results, just a shame the machinery is holding him back. Can't wait to see what he can do in 2014 and hopefully this is a sign of things to come with not just Spanish riders coming up (of course its not like there was a lack of Italians a few years back!)
Luv this, bring it on Vale!
Luv this, bring it on Vale! Fenati... Baldassari, next we'd have american team, australian, japanese, british, but no spanish please they are too many already!
happy
It's just Happy news :) How many of the MotoGP guys are there, leaning over the fence watching at the Moto3 start ? Always Vale. Who can forget the Fenati that smashed the spaniards on a damp track on their home turf at Jerez ? But since then has struggled as everyone knows against the might of the KTM teams. Fantastic move from Vale - he's paving the way for his own future once he steps off the bike too, but such a nice way to do it, sharing his passion for the sport and nurturing his countrymen. Nice, Vale.
Bring it on Vale! I'd imagine
Bring it on Vale!
I'd imagine other nationalities somehow would do the same except spain, they are too many already.