Italian MotoGP stars receive “Sports Diplomacy Ambassador” honour
Current MotoGP racers Francesco Bagnaia and Marco Bezzecchi joined the likes of nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi in receiving an Ambassador of Sports Diplomacy honour in Italy.
MotoGP stars, and future Aprilia Racing teammates, Francesco Bagnaia and Marco Bezzecchi have received special honours for their contribution to racing in Italy.
Bagnaia and Bezzecchi both received their Sports Diplomacy Ambassador plaque on Tuesday, 14 July, alongside legends of the sport such as Valentino Rossi, Giacomo Agostini, and Max Biaggi.
The new ambassador roles were handed out by Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta, was also present, with the ceremony forming part of the “Moto D’Italia - Culture Beyond The Track” event.
The initiative promotes motorcycling as an example of Italian industrial, technological, sporting, and cultural excellence. It also serves as a platform to strengthen Italy’s image worldwide.
Bezzecchi, who joined the ceremony via video, said this after receiving his plaque:
"I am very proud to have been appointed Sports Diplomacy Ambassador, and I would like to thank Minister Antonio Tajani for entrusting me with this role. It is a unique responsibility, and I will do my utmost to live up to it. I feel very fortunate because at Aprilia I have found a fantastic team who care about me and work hard, both on the track and in Noale, and this is truly important to me.
“Winning at Mugello, on an Italian motorbike with a factory team, and carrying the Italian flag onto the podium was an incredible feeling. Even now, when I think back on it, I get goosebumps. For now, I need to focus on my recovery. The operation went well, and I’ll be at Silverstone."
With regards to Ducati, the Bologna-based company featured a display of the Desmosedici GP26 that’s raced by Bagnaia and the factory Ducati Lenovo Team in MotoGP. The Grand Prix machine was joined by Nicolò Bulega's WorldSBK-spec Panigale V4 R, and the Superleggera V4 Centenario Tricolore, which is positioned as the Borgo Panigale’s most extreme road-legal Ducati ever built.
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
