Luca Marini is set to embark on his second season in MotoGP as VR46 brakes cover with its Mooney-sponsored new team.

His first year on factory Ducati machinery awaits and Marini is excited to get 2022 started after a difficult debut.

“The bike this year is fantastic,” Marini exclaimed, speaking after the official Mooney VR46 launch. “Is very strong from the start, I think, of the season.

"For sure with the 2022 we need to work a little bit but after some races it will be at the top. So I'm excited for that.

“My riding style is improved a lot compared to last year,” he continued, reflecting on his evolution inside the premier class after a season on the 2019 Desmosedici. “I tried to change it a little bit and improve my weakness and I think that I can say that now I'm really stronger compared to last year.

“In the test in Indonesia I was able to improve a lot, also in the race simulation I understood better the feeling with the front tyre during the long race distance because it changes a lot when you stay in the slipstream of other riders. The pressure go very, very high and it's difficult to ride the bike in that situation. Last year I remember that I struggled a lot in this specific case, but now I feel that I'm ready for all the situations that happen in the race, that is every time more difficult with respect to all the other practice. So I'm quite satisfied from my level now but for sure I can grow even more and the bike also can grow a lot.

“I think it was just worse, everything was more difficult,” he said of his two-year-old Ducati. “It was everything more stressful because with the technical package that is not at the level, you stress yourself more for try to do something more.

"This was a problem from last year because I was not able to ride with calm, with serenity and try to enjoy the moment. With the 2022 I had more time to prepare the bike, myself and to feel more comfortable on it. Don't try to put a fast lap just one time for a stay in front but was everything with more calm. I enjoyed a lot the feeling on the new bike and especially these things that we can have more patience because you know that you have the same bike of the other riders. So also when you check the data and you understand that some of the rider make another manoeuvre compared to you, you can do that with no problem maybe with the other bike. Also you try to do something that the bike doesn't let you do [last year] so it's not easy. Was really tough.”

Last’s years debut came with the added pressure of mixed teams. While Marini was running under the VR46 banner, the garage was Avintia’s and the overall decisions came from there. This season sees the brand strike out on its own with four riders spread across Moto2 and MotoGP and Ducati support for Marini in the premier class.

“I don't think that it's possible to make life easier in MotoGP,” Marini admitted when asked if this year brought a lighter air. "It's nice to be in a family but what is the most important thing I think is that we have the same goal. We want to achieve great results also MotoGP like we did in Moto2 so this is a great feeling. Pushed from also the other people that are working with me, trying to do the correct things for be there in the top position of the MotoGP. I think this is fantastic.

“I want to share with them all these good moments that will come this year because we have a great history with all the team, with all the guys that are working with me and it's a pleasure to share with them these feelings.”

2022 brings the birth of the VR46 MotoGP team, a factory-spec Ducati and a new crew chief - David Muñoz who worked with Valentino Rossi at Petronas Yamaha - for the 24-year-old Italian. All of which he seems to be taking in his stride.

“I think that I understood in the first test quite well the new bike and also the areas we need to work on, and the work with David is great. My relationship with him is fantastic. I admire him as a person also, not just the crew chief, because he's a very, very good person and I like a lot to work with him. For sure will be a key member of the crew because he has very good experience. Not so much maybe in MotoGP but he is so smart and clever and very calm in difficult situations. So he will be very important for me this year and I hope also in the future.”

One element Marini seemed to struggle with in 2021 was race distance stamina, something he has been working hard on over the winter.

“This year I pushed a lot with my physical preparation,” he explained. “I'm quite satisfied for the moment but I think that I can improve more during the season and understand after the first races where I need to work more. I change a little bit but not so much, I think that our standard is good but I just tried to do something more specific for me because, you know that we are a lot of riders in the academy but I want to do some more detail about what I need more on the bike and what I struggled more last year especially.

“When I did a lot of injury in the left shoulder and then the surgery, never feel like the right shoulder. So this is the area that there is a lack of strength a little bit and I cannot work on that shoulder like with a normal shoulder, every time I need to do some more specific, spend more time with that and I think that now I reached a good level. For now I'm quite satisfied. We will see after some races if I need to work a little bit more or in which area I need to be more perfect.

“It's very important to try to improve every time yourself. Don't stop, in my opinion you can improve every year. A great example is Lewis Hamilton,” he said of the seven-time F1 World Champion.

“Is great, fantastic how he can work on himself and try to every year do another step forward for achieve great results, so this is the way. Now MotoGP is so competitive, so difficult, maybe the most difficult era, you have to work on details and never feel happy. Just enjoy the good moments for a few days but then work on yourself, on your riding style and something more for improve because all the other riders still grow a lot every day.

“I'm working on myself on all the areas, so on my riding style I change a lot to compare last year, adapting myself to the Ducati but now also I'm able to adapt the Ducati to what I need for feeling comfortable on the bike. So this is a great moment for me.”