As which of this Quintet ‘O MotoGP Newbies’ will be
Rookie Of the Year?
So we’re now four races into this season’s
MotoGP Championship and per Tipicali, I try to post my views upon the start of
the Ultimate Road Racing Kneedraggers series on the Planet in conjuction with
the series lone U.S. round held at COTA, nee Circuit Of The Americas in Austin,
Texas.
Thus here’s a quick Look See’ at this years
Bevy ‘O Rookie MotoGP Riders and the corresponding MotoGP Team changes, which
is usually when I learn something about All of the New Faces on the MotoGP
Grid.
Since I Don’t follow Moto2, except for the TV
Highlights teasers during the MotoGP Pre-race Build up, I was only mildly aware
of Remy Gardner’s prowess, not to mention that famous last name, being son of
1987 GP500 World Champion Wayne Gardner. As Remy’s Pappy was Australia’s first
ever GP500 Big Boyz’, now MotoGP World Champion.
And with Remy’s two stints with the Junior KTM Moto2
Squad, i.e.; 2017-2018 and 2021, it shouldn’t be any surprise that He’s now
racing for the Tech3 KTM Factory Racing Satellite outfit.
Gardner is the reigning Moto2 Champion having scored
five Wins, six Seconds and one Third place finish enroute to the title vs. Red Bull
KTM Ajo teammate Raul Fernandez, winning the Moto2 Crown with a 10th place finish
in the season finale.
Raul Fernandez finished as the Moto2 Runner-up behind
Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate Remy Gardner, despite scoring eight Wins vs. Remy’s five
in a stellar rookie season! As Raul finished just four points adrift of Remy, and
reportedly Broke several of fellow Spaniard known here on No Fenders as Thee
Pinball Wizard’, aka Marc Marquez’s Moto2 records! With the duo claiming 13 of
18 wins during the 2021 Moto2 season’s Championship, Aye Karumba!
Thus the duo should be a formidable pair at the
KTM “B Team” this year, whilst it’s worth noting that Raul’s younger brother
Adrian currently competes in the “Junior” Moto3 category. So could we see a
fourth Brother combo in MotoGP in the near future?
Gresini Racing MotoGP
Last year, Fausto Gresini, founder of His
Gresini Motorcycle racing team that served as Aprilia’s MotoGP outfit, passed
away from COVID-19 at the age of 60. Yet Fausto’s widow Nadia Padovani has
decided to carry on as the new Team Principal this season, albeit no longer
with Aprilia, as the Italian marcque’s decided to take their factory programme “In
House” this year.
Thus Gresini becomes one of Ducati’s multiple
Satellite Squads with a brace of Desmosedici GP21 Ducs’ for Enea Bastianini and
rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio, the latter “I Know Nothing” about, Herr Schulz!
Di Giannantonio has had a long relationship
with the Gresini racing concern, beginning with it’s Moto3 team in 2015, and ultimately
finishing as the Moto3 runner-up to Jorge Martin in 2018, ahead of Marco
Bezzecchi in third, before graduating to Moto2 with Gresini. Fabio plied his
trade in Moto2 from 2019-2021 with a finish of seventh place in 2021 before
joining the Gresini MotoGT team this year.
Meanwhile, Enea Bastianini, who moves over from
the Sky VR46 Esponsorama Racing team gave Gresini and Himself a Fairytale start
to this year’s MotoGP campaign, when the 24yr old Italian scored His and the
Team’s maiden MotoGP victory at the season opening Qatar round this March! Thus
Di Giannantonio’s got His work Cut out for Himself…
Mooney VR46 Racing Team
Last year, The doctor’, nee Valentino Rossi and
his VR46 Racing Team hired the Esponsorama MotoGP team to campaign a entry for
Luca Marini, the Half Brother of Rossi during his rookie MotoGP season.
For 2022, Rossi’s VR46 concern has replaced the
departing Esponsorama MotoGP team after it’s ten seasons in the premiere
motorcycle class. With the Mooney Group, and Italian joint venture between Energy
and Banking concerns being the team’s Title sponsor.
Naturally Rossi’s done a Dealio’ to run Ducati’s
for the next three years. And Marini, returning for a second year in MotoGP gets
the latest Italian machinery, with a Desmosedici GP22 under his legs.
Rookie Marco Bezzecchi graduates to MotoGP with
an year Old Duc’ after a two year stint at Sky Racing Team VR46, where He
finished third Overall last season, along with a Moto3 Championship best of
third place in 2018.
Interestingly, Vezzecchi was teammate with Marini
in 2020 for the then newly formed Moto2 Sky Racing Team VR46 concern, with the
pair winning the Team’s Championship that season.
WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Pteam
This Satellite Yamaha team was originally
formed under the ownership of Malaysia’s Sepeng International Circuit, before
Malaysian Oil Giant Petronas and the Sepeng circuit announced their withdrawal
from MotoGP at the end of the 2021 season.
Razlan Razali took over control of the team
with co-partners and rebranded the team as RNF MotoGP Racing, with it’s initials
from Him and his two Children’s names. While Dorna, the Governing Body of MotoGP
has granted the team a MotoGP Grid Slot thru 2026.
Longtime Ducati Corse rider Andrea Dovizioso who
joined the team mid season last year, as part of the multiple revolving riders
Shuffle following ex-Factory Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales Styrian GP Meltdown,
continues as the Team leader in 2022.
While former Moto3 Petronas Sprinta team rider
Darryn Binder, younger Brother of KTM Factory MotoGP rider Brad Binder is promoted
to MotoGP.
Cannot say that Darryn’s Moto3 career was stellar, having competed between 2015-2021, with One win and three Poles from a total of 117 Starts, finishing seventh Overall last year.
