Who is Valentino Rossi’s newest MotoGP star?

Valentino Rossi’s protégés stole the show at Assen as Francesco Bagnaia stormed to victory to arrest a recent barren run. But it was the rider in second, on Bagnaia’s old bike, who had all eyes on him. Securing his and the VR46 team’s first MotoGP podium, Marco Bezzecchi has all the characteristics that made his mentor special

Lewis Duncan Jun 27, 2022, 2:49 PM

“Something that I said to my girlfriend, we were eating and I was looking at my house, and I said, ‘where can I put my first MotoGP trophy?’ But it’s incredible, it’s many races this has happened. Like, in Mugello I had a dream that I was in the qualifying behind Pecco and I passed him on the straight and I made the pole position and I heard the noise from the fans. And in the qualifying I almost made pole, third position. And now here it’s fantastic.”

Eccentricity seems to be a trait Valentino Rossi likes in his VR46 Academy riders, and Marco Bezzecchi seems to have that in spades as he spoke to the media following his maiden MotoGP podium.

Share Or Save This Story

Author Lewis Duncan

Lewis Duncan is Autosport's International Editor and primary motorcycle racing reporter. A motorsport fan from a young age, Lewis became interested in journalism when he won the star letter competition in the February 2012 issue of F1 Racing Magazine. A member of the Autosport Academy from 2017, Lewis became a freelance motorcycle racing correspondent for Autosport in 2019 before becoming a full-time staffer in 2020 as International Editor.

While MotoGP coverage is his priority, Lewis also covers World Superbikes and road racing across the Motorsport Network, and hosts the Tank Slappers Podcast. He has also occasionally commentated on 750 Motor Club meetings. Away from motorsport, Lewis is a keen record collector with a collection unashamedly largely featuring Iron Maiden and Rush and an avid guitar player.