MotoGP: VR46 Racing bags full Saudi Aramco sponsorship for 2022

The VR46 team owned and run by The Doctor has bagged Saudi Arabian sponsorship for 2022 and beyond.

Following their debut in the premier MotoGP class in 2021 with Luca Marini in the Avintia team, Valentino Rossi’s team have committed to 2022 and beyond bagging sponsorship from Saudi sponsor Aramco who published a photo of a concept livery using a Yamaha M1. The sponsor confirmed a deal lasting until 2026 meaning there is the likelihood Rossi’s team are going to expand into a full two-rider outfit for 2022.

The Yamaha M1 used in the concept is plainly just a concept and not to be read into too much given that the team are currently running Ducati’s and are rumoured to go to Aprilia. There is nothing official so everything is just speculation at the moment but with the Petronas team indicating they would like to continue to run Yamaha’s in 2022 we could see the squad with Ducati or Aprilia.

Suzuki are also rumoured to be hunting a satellite team so there’s every chance we could see them run Suzuki’s with an unhappy Morbidelli making the jump from Yamaha to Suzuki, of course, we are speculating here but it’s not like it’s a completely impossible scenario.

Another rider pipped for the other VR46 seat alongside Marini is Marco Bezzecchi, the Moto2 rider took P4 overall in the class last year and is aiming to take the title in 2021 before a jump to MotoGP next season, it would be within the teams best interests to promote their rider.

I am sure we will continue to receive more information as the weeks pass by and the story unfolds before our eyes.