Rossi to back VR46 Moto3 team in 2014

VALENTINO Rossi has confirmed he will be contributing towards a new Moto3 team in 2014 who will race with KTM machinery and possibly include his half-brother Luca Marini alongside Romano Fenati.

The nine-time World Champion will work alongside Sky Italia (who will be taking over the broadcasting rights for MotoGP next season) to help younger riders onto international circuits after a deal was completed between Valentino Rossi’s clothing and merchandise company VR46 and Sky.

In August the Italian had denied he would start his own team, but instead explained he would start his own ‘VR46 Riders Academy’. 

Since then, it has been confirmed that with Sky being the principal sponsor along with VR46's contribution an official entry application has already been handed to MotoGP governing body the FIM and commercial rights holder Dorna Sports to partake in the Moto3 class.

Romano Fenati will be one of the riders in this Moto3 team. Rossi explained: “We have joined forces with Sky in order to give the Italian riders the opportunity to be competitive and reach the highest levels.”

Rossi will not be running the team and at the moment will only be contributing towards it via his VR46 company. It has not been announced who will be involved in running the team as of yet or who the second rider will be, but speculation suggests that Rossi’s half-brother Marini could make his full-time Moto3 debut with this team next season.

Marini made his Moto3 wildcard debut at Misano where he unfortunately crashed out on the first lap.