Luca Marini is very determined the one who presents himself at the start of the MotoGP 2022. Last year the Mooney VR46 Racing rider entered the premier class almost on tiptoe, but now things have definitely changed. If he had a Ducati GP19 on his hands for 12 months, his brother’s team gave him a Desmosedici GP22 identical to that of the factory riders, with which he has already shown great things during the winter tests.
And if there is something on which the Marchesan seems really motivated, it is to disprove all those who have been skeptical of him, especially when the Borgo Panigale manufacturer has decided to entrust him with the fifth factory bike. His intention is to prove them wrong about him and to do so with results.
Everyone who has worked with you speaks very well of you from all points of view. On the outside, however, there is a bit of skepticism: do you perceive it too?
“This is certainly an interesting aspect, because it is true that in any case there is this skepticism on the part of many people and I would invite everyone to get to know me better and exchange a few words together. In the end I think that all the people who have had the opportunity to work with I have understood what a person I am, and if everyone has spoken well of me, I’m happy. Maybe in the end it is the skeptics who have to change their minds. What I can do is work hard, to demonstrate my talent and my speed with results on the track. I think I have a good opportunity to do it this year, but I think there will be some in the future as well. I’m ready to prove my worth to everyone. “
Luca Marini, Marco Bezzecchi, Celestino Vietti, Niccolo Antonelli, VR46 Racing Team
Photo by: Media VR46
Last year you were the one who scored less among the rookies, because Martin won and Bastianini went on the podium. How did you experience this situation? Do you see this year as the rematch?
“Last year I was in a different situation compared to Martin, but also a little bit compared to Enea. This, however, must not be a year of revenge, it must be a year of growth, in which I can express myself at best on the bike, in which I can have fun and get good results. Last year it was a much more stressful situation, because I felt I could do more, but in some ways I couldn’t show it. For me it’s much more stressful than when you have it. same material as the others and you have to exploit it. You take on responsibility, but it is in these conditions that real champions have always made the difference. This year I can express myself at my best, riding a fantastic bike and working with people who they know me well. There is no desire for revenge against Martin and Bastianini, I’m here to do my best, to try to get to the positions that count in every race, then try to get on the podium and win ” .
What are your impressions of the Desmosedici GP22?
“It’s a fantastic bike. It’s still very new, so we have to work on it a bit, but I think we’ll be at the top in a few races. But I also think I’ve improved, because I’ve worked on my weaknesses, especially on managing the bike. front tire. In the tests I was fast both on the lap and on the race simulation “.
Looking back on your career, when did you realize you were ready to make the leap to MotoGP?
“I think after the fourth year in Moto2, then in 2019, when Bagnaia and other riders I had struggled with started making the leap towards MotoGP, because I saw that they were able to go fast. At that point I told myself that it could have been done, that being fast in MotoGP was not an impossible thing. I started thinking about it gradually, then the following year I finished second and while I was fighting for the World Championship I felt really ready. The jump therefore came in the moment right of my path. I believe that each rider follows different paths, depending on the opportunities they are given. But the important thing is to prove that you are worth the MotoGP once you get there, managing to stay at a high level for many years, as only a few have managed to do “.
VR46 Racing Team
Photo by: Media VR46
Does racing with your brother’s team, so with the family insignia, change anything?
“Honestly, I don’t think so. It doesn’t seem to change anything. We all want to achieve the same thing. Even if I were in another team, the goal must always be the same: that is to achieve the maximum and fight for the positions that count in every race. It’s nice to share this moment with Valentino too, because with him I can also talk about things that maybe I couldn’t talk about with another boss. In the end, when you are in the garage, with the helmet on, everything is the same “.
You have repeated several times that you feel more relaxed: how did you work during the winter to get to this feeling?
“Honestly, I haven’t done anything special. It’s just a question of awareness growing inside of me. I feel faster, stronger. With the experience gained last year, however, I have grown from all points of view,” 360 degrees. It’s a set of things that make you feel better. Even having a factory bike gives you peace of mind: being on par with others is a fantastic thing, because that’s how you see the rider, the team or how good you are at putting it in place. Surely all my opponents are very strong, because every rider who is in MotoGP is either world champion or has finished at least in the top three in the minor categories. Then everyone has a factory bike practically, so it’s nice to feel on par with everyone and to be able to play it. This is what makes the difference “.
But do you feel a little changed?
“The important thing is to never feel like you have arrived. In this sense I would like to follow the example of Lewis Hamilton, who works on himself and improves every year. MotoGP is very complicated, perhaps now as it has never been in the past. , so you never have to feel completely satisfied and keep growing. I changed my riding style for Ducati and now I’m starting to adapt it to my needs. “
You have changed head coach: now David Munoz is next to you, how do you feel with him?
“We have a fantastic relationship and not only from a professional point of view. I really enjoy working with him and I believe he will be a key figure in my team. Not only is he a very intelligent person, but he also manages to stay calm in difficult times and this is very important”.
Luca Marini, Marco Bezzecchi, VR46 Racing Team
Photo by: Media VR46
#MotoGP #Marini #prove #worth #skeptics