Francesco Bagnaia heartfelt message to Valentino Rossi over the weekend for the Academy

Valentino Rossi’s return to the MotoGP paddock at the Austrian Grand Prix was marked by significant satisfaction as he witnessed triumphs from two of his VR46 Riders Academy protégés.

Francesco Bagnaia clinched victory in MotoGP, while Celestino Vietti celebrated his first win of the season in Moto2.

Despite challenges faced by Rossi’s Pertamina VR46 Racing

Team, including Fabio Di Giannantonio’s injury on Friday, the team achieved a commendable sixth-place finish with Marco Bezzecchi.

Rossi expressed his delight in a press conference, noting Bagnaia’s and Vietti’s successes. Rossi highlighted that the victories were particularly sweet, with Vietti’s win marking his first of the season and a significant achievement given the difficulties he had been facing.

Rossi, a two-time MotoGP World Champion, also praised Bezzecchi’s performance, recognizing his strong race despite the team’s struggles.

He remarked positively on Franky Morbidelli’s comeback, although Morbidelli’s race wasn’t as strong as hoped.

Rossi’s reflections underscored a highly successful weekend for the VR46 Academy, reaffirming its status as a nurturing ground for emerging talent in the MotoGP world.