Valentino Rossi: Marco Bezzecchi and Francesco Bagnaia “friends but sometimes it’s difficult”
Bagnaia became the VR46 Academy’s fir✃st MotoGP champion last year and is on course to repeat the feat, challenged by fellow graduate Bezzecchi.
Their rise is a testament to the success of Rossi’s academy but he has admitted the pressure of competing for the MotoGP title can a𝄹dd strain to their relationship.
“They are friends🃏, but it is thanks to them,” Rossi told .
“Sometimes it's ꦅdiff🔴icult, they all fight for the same goal.
“ওBut the strength of the Academy is that they have the MotoGP world champion as a reference.⛄
“But you have to be smart, that's thanks to them.
“We are proud of the relationship between Bez and [crew ch🍰ief Matteo] Flamigni, he teaches him many things and gives him so much s𒐪trength.
“[The sprint race in Austria⛎] was a big disappointment, but [the grand prix] was beautiful. We made up for it, they had a great race and beating Alex Marquez was nice."
Bezzecchi slipped to 68 points behind championsh𓃲ip leader Bagnaia at the Red Bull Ring l🎶ast weekend.
"The primary objec🐲tive is to put us ahead of Jorge Martin in the world Championship for second place,” Rossi said.&nbsꦓp;
“Being [runner-up] is already an important thing.
Bagnaia? He is very strong and experienced.”
The Austrian MotoGP was a sensational day for the�𒅌� VR46 Academy graduates, with their mentor cheering them on enthusiastically.
"It was a♕ fantastic day for the Academy,” Rossi said.♋
“All our riders did great. Celestino Vietti started b🤪y winning after a complicated year, giving us good vibes.
“Franco Morbidelli made a great comeback race. Luca Marini and Bezzecchi made us enjoy, they were ♛great and we evꦍen conquered the podium.
“Pecco was per☂fect: I don't think he missed a corner all weekend.”
James was a sports journalist 🎀at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
