RIDER INTERVIEW
# EmiliaRomagnaGP
Results have been a far cry from 2023 . Bezzecchi has scored just one podium finish all year and is only on the cusp of the World Championship top ten after 13 rounds of 20 .
Yet it hasn ’ t all been bad for the Italian . In June he announced he will conclude his long-standing partnership with the VR46 team in 2025 to move to Aprilia ’ s factory team , a prospect that is exciting the 25-year old .
“ Every rider ’ s dream is one day to become a factory rider . My target was to grow , try to improve my riding skills , my experience in MotoGP . And then one day I arrive to a factory team to represent a brand . I had the possibility to do it . And for me was the best choice that I could do .
“ Being in a factory team is completely different . I have many friends like Pecco ( Bagnaia ), Luca ( Marini ), Frankie ( Morbidelli ). And speaking with them , they told me many things that will change . But honestly the proper work , I ’ m very curious to discover it and to see . The support ( I have now ) is good already , but it will be different , so we will see .”
Bezzecchi ’ s decision to join Aprilia was at odds with a decision taken in 2023 , when he turned down a seat at Pramac Ducati on a full factory GP24 to remain in the team of his idol and mentor Valentino Rossi . “ Last year I had the opportunity to change team , but my decision was to stay because once I ’ ve changed , I wanted to change for a full factory team . Last year , of course , Ducati gave me the possibility to go in the factory supported team . That was a very good offer . But I didn ’ t know if I could feel the same with all the team like I feel right now . This year was different . I had the opportunity to change from my team to a full factory team .”
Having met Rossi once the news was confirmed , he was relieved there was no change in the relationship between him and the Italian legend . “ Valentino ( and I ), we are both a bit sad , but also he is very happy for me . We spoke a lot ( recently ) and we saw each other ( on ) the day when the news came out . We hugged each other and he was very happy for me , so fortunately he understood everything . I was a bit afraid to be honest ! But he understood and he was like a good friend , so I ’ m very happy for this .”
Gran Premio Pramac Dell ’ Emilia Romagna | 61