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| VR46 Team Boss Says Pressure Isn’t About Pramac’s MotoGP Title – It’s Been There Since Day One. |
Even though Pramac made history by becoming the first satellite team to win the MotoGP World Championship with Jorge Martin in 2024, VR46 team boss Pablo Nieto insists that his team isn’t under extra pressure because of it. For him, the pressure has always been there—thanks to one iconic name: Valentino Rossi.
That’s right. Carrying the VR46 banner means dealing with sky-high expectations from day one. Whether in Moto3 or now in MotoGP, all eyes have been on them from the start.
“I think the pressure has been there since we were in Moto3,” Nieto told Crash.net in an exclusive interview.
“We’re VR46, and when you carry that name, the pressure is already there.”
Pramac’s MotoGP Title Sets the Bar, VR46 Gets Ducati Factory Support
Pramac raised the bar for satellite teams last year with their historic championship win. With full factory support from Ducati, they proved that independent teams can compete at the highest level.
Now, that same level of support has shifted to VR46. For the 2025 season, Fabio Di Giannantonio is riding a factory-spec Ducati GP25, giving the team top-tier machinery to chase podiums.
Although VR46 has had race wins in the past, they haven’t been back on the top step since 2023. Still, expectations are growing with the tech upgrades and results improving.
Pressure Isn’t a Problem – It’s a Privilege
Nieto doesn’t see Pramac’s title win as added pressure. In fact, he welcomes the challenge.
“If there’s no pressure, that means nobody cares about you,” he said.
“So having that kind of pressure is actually a good thing. It shows that people care about us, are watching us, and expect something from us. That means we have a responsibility—to achieve something meaningful.”
Solid Start to 2025: Podiums and Promise
The VR46 team has had a strong start to the 2025 MotoGP season. After seven rounds, they sit third in the team standings with five podiums across both sprint and main races.
On the rider side, Franco Morbidelli is fourth in the championship standings, with Di Giannantonio just behind in sixth—only 10 points apart.
Nieto is happy with the progress, but he admits there’s still something missing to make VR46 a regular podium contender.
“It’s not bad. We’re fourth and sixth in the championship, so we’re happy. But of course, you always want more,” he said.
“We’ve got the best bike we’ve ever had in MotoGP and great support from Ducati. That’s huge for us.”
Just One Step Away From Consistency
What’s holding the team back from fighting for the podium every weekend? Nieto believes it’s just a matter of putting everything together.
“We’re working very well, but we’re still missing that little something to be up there every race,” he added.
“Sometimes it’s just bad luck, sometimes it’s mistakes or crashes. That’s racing.”
The VR46 Spirit Is Built for Pressure
For VR46, pressure isn’t a problem—it’s a sign that the world is watching, and that’s exactly where they want to be. With top-tier bikes, passionate fans, and the legend of Valentino Rossi behind them, VR46 is on the brink of something big.
They’re not just here to participate. They’re here to make a statement.
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