The VR46 🔥academy rider was brilliant in 2023 until a shoulder inju🍌ry derailed his MotoGP title hopes.

Although the Italian was always an outside bet for the title, Bezzecchi was clinging on to the heels of Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin thanks to some of the most dominan✱t performances of any rider. 

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In 2024, Bezzecchi will againඣ be expected to kick on and mount another ✃strong challenge, to the point where he could come into consideration for a factory Ducati seat.

Bezzecchi was offered a Pramac Ducati rider midway through last season but decided to s𝐆tay put at Valentino Rossi’s Mooney VR46 outfit.

As to why he made that decision, Bezzecchi told : “It was a difficult decision𓆏 because Ducati offered me a factory package. 

“I don't know whether it would have been completely factory or an intermediate step, but for me it was about the fact that in MotoGP these days you have to get the performanc👍e up to speed very quickly. Gardner, for example, won the [Moto2] World Championship and after that...

“I knew that for me the human side was very important and I had built that relationship w🅘ith my team and my team. 

“When you know that you have to peꦿrform very quickly - then having this pressure when you change teams: not knowing whether you would feel the same, whether ♎you would build the same relationship and the same way of working as with my current crew chief because I probably wouldn't have been able to take Matteo [Flamigni] with me... You just need that feeling. It's hard to describe, but I'm sure you understand what I mean.

“In the end I said to myself: “Why should I movꦿe from one customer team to another customer team?” My goal – like every MotoGP rider – is to get into a factory team. 

“The VR46 Riders Academy has been working on building me up for a factory team since ꦛmy Moto3 debut. They have done so much for me, why should I leave them to join another satellite team?”

Keen to becom🅺e a factory rider as soon as possible, Bezzecchi wants to achieve that ‘dream’ with Ducati.

“I would like to be a factory rider for Ducati,” added the Italian. “This is a dream of mine be𓄧cause I really like the way they work. I like the project, I like everything. 

“I have to say that the other manufacturers are getting closer and closer in terms of level, there is no longer superior s✨peed or anything else. What makes the difference: We are eigh☂t really strong riders.

“Of course all riders are strong and don't get me wrong, but eight strong riders on the same motorcycle is an advantage compared to the two strong Yamaha riders, for example. That i🦩s normal. I would li﷽ke to stay with Ducati, but we'll see.”