Valentino Rossi: Marco Bezzecchi and Francesco Bagnaia “friends but sometimes it’s difficult”
Bagnaia became the VR46 Academꦜy’s first 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 hasꦍ admitted the pressure of competing for the MotoGP title can add strain to their relationship.
“They are friends, but it is thanks to them💯,” Rossi told .👍
“Sometimes it's di﷽fficult, they all fight for the same goal.
“But the strength of the Academy is that they hಞave the MotoGP world champion as a reference.
“But you have to be smart, that's thanks to them.
“We📖 are proud of the relations🙈hip between Bez and [crew chief Matteo] Flamigni, he teaches him many things and gives him so much strength.
“[The sprint race in Austria] was a big disappo💜intment, but [the grand prix] was beautiful. We made up for it꧒, they had a great race and beating Alex Marquez was nice."
Bezzecchi slipped tℱo 68 points behind championship leader Bꦉagnaia at the Red Bull Ring last weekend.
"The primary objective is to p💟ut us ahead of Jorge Martin in the world Championship for second place,” Rossi said♚.
“Being [runner-up] is already an important thing.
Bagnaia? He is very strong and experienced.”
The Austrian MotoGP was a sensational day for the 💯VR46 Academy graduates, with their mentor cheer꧟ing them on enthusiastically.
"It was a fantastic day for the Academy,” Rossi sa🍨id.
“All our riders did great. Celestino Vietti started by wꦦinning 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 e🔯ven conquere🃏d the podium.
“Pecco was perfect: I don't think he missed a corner al🅺l weekend.”
♉James was a spღorts journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
