Each new season brings its share of newness in the MotoGP paddock, and this year is no exception. 2022 is set to be the biggest ever in the history of MotoGP, with 21 dates confirmed for the championship calendar.
The 2022 season is going to be bigger and better than ever, and you won’t want to miss a single second of all the fun. The Qatar GP is first up on the 6th of March, and should not be missed!
Most importantly from a South-African perspective the local Binder brothers, Brad and Darryn, are racing again with the latter making his debut in MotoGP after been promoted from Moto3. The younger Binder will be racing for the private WithU Yamaha RNF team.
The next 12 months will offer a familiar sense of excitement on track, while there are plenty of fresh ideas coming too. Two of those dates see the MotoGP go to new destinations, namely Finland and Indonesia.
The riders have already had the chance to get to know Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit in Indonesia, having carried out three days of testing there just recently middle February.
The track is composed of 11 right-handers and six left, combining for a total of 17 on the 4.3km track. Round 2 of the Championship on 20 March will be held in Indonesia.
Moving from a sunny island destination to an Arctic climate, Finland’s KymiRIng will host Round 12 in July at the third time of asking. The pandemic delayed the visit to the circuit 110km north of Helsinki. It will be MotoGP’s most northerly event and the 4.5 km long track consists of 21 corners, eight left and 13 right.
New teams:
MotoGP 2022 welcomes the arrival of some new structures. WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team replaces the Petronas Yamaha SRT outfit. Razlan Razali continues in his role as Team Principal with Wilco Zeelenberg as Team Manager.
Gresini and Aprilia have parted ways and will now compete as Aprilia Racing, while Gresini Racing MotoGP moved to Ducati machinery and become a satellite team for the Borgo Panigale factory.
The Italian red bullets have managed to put eight bikes onto the grid this year, with Mooney VR46 Racing also added to their ranks ahead of the new season.
New faces and new colours in MotoGP:
Five riders have been promoted to MotoGP, including the Moto2 World Champion Remy Gardner and his 2021 title rival and teammate Raul Fernandez. Both riders will don the Tech3 KTM colours in their rookie season.
There is also Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), who will remain within their current teams but move to Ducati machinery.
Last but not least is Darryn Binder, who became just the second-ever rider, after Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), to move directly from Moto3 to MotoGP for the WithU Yamaha RNF team.
Just two premier class riders see a change of seats and leathers, with Enea Bastianini rejoining the Gresini family with Luca Marini riding under the VR46 moniker.
