Marco Bezzecchi

Reigning MotoGP Rookie of the Year Marco Bezzecchi remains with the VR46 Ducati team for the 2023 MotoGP season.

After wild-card Moto3 appearances in 2015 and 2016, Bezzecchi made his full-time grand prix debut with CIP Mahindra team in 2017, celebrating a debut podium at Motegi during an otherwise difficult season.

A switch to PrustelGP and KTM for the following season brought almost instant success and Bezzecchi battled for the championship on his way to third overall and three wins.

But a move to Moto2 with Tech3 KTM halted his progress and he slumped to just 23rd in the standings. But VR46, which has backed Bezzecchi throughout his career, kept faith and moved the young Italian into their own Kalex team for 2020.

'Bez' celebrated two wins, seven podiums and fourth in the world championship and was expected to be a firm title contender for 2021. Ultimately Bezzecchi was left to salvage third behind dominant Ajo team-mates Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez, before being chosen by VR46 to complete its new MotoGP team line-up.

While team-mate Luca Marini had the latest GP22 machines, Bezzecchi ran GP21s - but soon emerged as the stand-out newcomer. His highlights included a podium at Assen and pole position in Buriram, on his way to 14th in the world championship.

Bezzecchi, like Marini, will ride the world championship-winning GP22 this season.