9-time motorbike grand prix world champion Rossi retired from MotoGP at the end of the 2021 season and now competes in GT World Problem Europe with famed sportscar squad WRT, first with Audi in 2022 and now with BMW.
His presence at MotoGP occasions had drastically diminished since retiring, however Rossi stays extremely energetic along with his VR46 Academy in response to Bezzecchi, who will contest his second season within the premier class in 2023.
The VR46 Academy was arrange by Rossi in 2014 to assist nurture younger Italian skills, and has produced quite a few race winners and world champions throughout all classes of grand prix motorbike racing – together with reigning MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia.
Bezzecchi – who scored one podium and one pole place as a rookie with VR46 Ducati final yr – admits “I miss” Rossi “so much” now he’s not a full-time member of the paddock, however notes “Vale is all the time with us anyway”.
“So, after we go to coach, if he’s not there he follows us even when he’s in one other a part of the world,” Bezzecchi.
“However more often than not when he’s at house, he’s coaching with us. So, even for those who don’t see him, he’s coaching with us.
“However, we knew that this second [Rossi’s retirement] needed to arrive. So, we knew it and we weren’t ready since you by no means know what to anticipate.
“However now we’ve to look to attempt to be the perfect rider that we will.
“We have now him luckily on our again, simply to help us. However, belief me, he’s actually, actually current with us.
“I don’t know tips on how to describe it, however even when he’s not there he’s very, very focused on our sporting life and our regular life.
“So, I feel we’re very fortunate. After all, it’s totally different, I miss him so much within the paddock. However he now has a profession in automobiles, I’m joyful for him.”
#46 Group WRT, BMW M4 GT3: Valentino Rossi, Augusto Farfus, Maxime Martin
Picture by: BMW Motorsport
Requested if Rossi has misplaced any of his pace on two wheels since his GT racing change, Bezzecchi replied: “Sadly, sure. So, it’s okay. Final time in Misano he kicked my ass, however subsequent time I’ll beat him!”
Bezzecchi took high rookie honours in MotoGP final yr and is anticipated to provide sturdy ends in 2023 as campaigns the 2022-spec Ducati that received the championship.
Final yr, Gresini’s Enea Bastianini received 4 races on his year-old Ducati, although Bezzecchi doesn’t really feel his state of affairs now and Bastianini’s final yr are very comparable.
“I feel the state of affairs is comparable however not the identical, as a result of on the finish of (2021) when Ducati created the brand new bike there have been many extra issues than this yr,” he stated when requested by Autosport following VR46’s 2023 launch occasion if it was real looking to count on him to duplicate Bastianini’s sophomore efforts in his second yr of MotoGP.
“This yr the brand new bike seems to be prefer it’s already very, very aggressive.
“So, I consider course our bike is improbable, I actually prefer it and I’ll attempt to struggle for race victories. It’s my solely goal, to attempt to win my first race after which from that second let’s see.
“To make a comparability in our world may be very tough, however I’ll attempt to struggle.”
