At Rossi’s ranch “not afraid to give a hit, to say someone was an a***hole”

Marco Bezzecchi won his first-ever MotoGP race in Argentina, handing a maiden victory to Valentino Rossi’s Mooney VR46 team in the premier class.

Francesco Bagnaia, the 2022 champion who made history as the first Italian to conquer MotoGP since Rossi in 2009, is another graduate from the academy who won the season-opener in Portimao.

Even Morbidelli, whose place at Yamaha has been questioned and remains uncertain, is ahead of teammate Fabio Quartararo two grands prix and two sprints into the year.

"It felt just like the Ranch, just like that,” Morbidelli said after finishing fourth in Argentina. 

“We always fight very hard. We are good friends. I mean, we have a great relationship. 

“We don't hold back anything. We are so open to each other. 

“You know we're not afraid to give a hit to one another.

“We're not afraid to tell someone has been an a***hole, so I think we are a great group. 

“And that's reflected also on track on the performances and on the way we fight against each other and against other people, yeah.”

Luca Marini, race-winner Bezzecchi’s teammate who finished P8, added: "It is fantastic. I knew the team would win a race this season because we are very fast.

“I just hoped to have an opportunity also for me in the future."

Factory Ducati rider Bagnaia, the most successful VR46 graduate to date after winning last season’s MotoGP championship, said: "I'm happy for Marco, I think he really deserved the victory. 

“He was unbeatable this weekend. He was very competitive yesterday, very competitive today in the wet. 

“So his first win in Moto3 was here, his first win in MotoGP is here, so he can be very proud of himself, and I'm confident that he will be very competitive all of the season."

The MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas is this weekend.