Valentino Rossi’s half-brother Luca Marini will ride against the legend for the first time when he rolls down pitlane as a MotoGP rookie in Qatar but no love will be lost on the track.

Marini will ride for the VR46 Avintia team alongside fellow new-boy Enea Bastianini in 2021 and says he will try to beat Rossi should the opportunity arise.

‘We will both be busy with our own work, everything else takes a back seat and if I have a chance I will try to beat him, and he will try to beat me,” said Marini, speaking at the team launch.

“A big leap in category is always a big change. There are a lot of things to learn - tyres, electronics - and also the power in general.

“These will be the first things I will work on. I know there will be difficult moments and I want to face them in the best way.

“I am in the class where Vale has raced for many years. I will ask him, and others, a lot of things but it is me that must go to the track and ride as best I can.”