He has been working for VR46 since 2015: why? “I think the mentality of Valentino and his group is the same as that of the Nieto family”. On Luca: “I know what it means to be brother of or son of: but it’s not a burden”. On the goals for the season: “Improve what we did in 2022: we have two very strong riders”
March 6, 2023
Is considered one of the family: Pablo Nieto he grew up together with the VR46 team: first in Moto3, then in Moto2, then in MotoGP. Moto.it had a chat with him at the presentation of the 2023 season.
How many years have you been working with the VR46 group?
“Since 2015. I remember when in 2014 Uccio (Alessio Salucci, NDA) and Albi (Alberto Tebaldi, NDA) came to talk to me: it was a great moment, I’m really happy to be still here”
Why did VR46 choose Pablo Nieto?
“I don’t know either… I think we did a great job with Maverick Viñales winning the title in 2013, in the second year of that team. Above all, I believe that the mentality of the VR46 is very similar to that of the Nieto family”
What is this mentality?
“We like to win, we like to give 100%, but we are also aware of being lucky, of doing a job we like, we have the opportunity to have fun, to enjoy the moment. We must always be thankful for doing the job we do. It’s a difficult job, because we spend so much time away from home, but the bike is our passion: we mustn’t forget it”
How is your relationship with Uccio, Albi? And with Valentine?
“We are a family. We share all the information: Uccio and I are the most operational part within the team. But there is also the Academy, Carlo Casabianca (the athletic trainer, NDA): the VR world is not only on the track, we grow every year, the number of people increases. We are the VR”
“We are VR”: it makes a difference…
“Yes, we are always under observation, everyone looks at us with particular attention. It’s true, we have fun, but we always have to do our best, we’re among friends, but it’s a job”
For the riders it is said that the MotoGP is a completely different thing compared to the other categories; Can the same be said for a team manager?
“Yes, this is the ‘Champions League’: there’s much more pressure from the media, there’s the relationship with the official manufacturer. But we like this pressure, it’s stimulating”
How do you judge MotoGP as a whole?
“We don’t have to make a comparison with F1, we are MotoGP: 2023 will be a completely different year. There is a very high level, all the top 15 riders can win at least one race, I’m curious to see how it will be with the SprintRace”
Marini and Bezzecchi: can you describe them to us?
“It is fortunate to work with them, I have known them for many years. They are different, but both are very strong. Marini was first in the Valencia and Malaysia tests, we can have a lot of fun with him. Bez is one who goes very fast, but he is also a group, everyone loves him ”
I think it was difficult for Luca to get where he is?
“Not in my opinion. He’s very proud to be who he is: he’s proving his worth, he’s going really strong. Being the brother of Valentino Rossi is just a pleasure. I understand his position a lot, the same happened to me: I am Angel Nieto’s son, it will be like this for life. And for me it is a pride, not a burden. It’s the same for him: he’s Valentino Rossi’s brother, but he’s proving to be a very strong rider. He’s the one who rides, not the brother of… We mustn’t forget where we come from, our DNA is wonderful”
Goals for 2023?
“Improve what was done in 2022, be protagonists. We have to show up on TV on Sunday…”
Can you win a race?
“Also two”
