When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Vinales has been suspended by Yamaha following the Styrian GP, in which he attempted to deliberately damage his bike’s engine in the closing laps.
Yamaha announced on the eve of last weekend’s Austrian GP that Vinales had been suspended and withdrawn from the second Red Bull Ring race.
Vinales publicly apologised to Yamaha on Saturday in Austria, admitting his actions in the Styrian GP were driven by frustration at his situation during the race and within Yamaha in general.
The relationship between both parties broke down irreparably across the 2021 season, with Vinales requesting his two-year contract to be terminated at the end of the current campaign.
Yamaha said last week any decision on Vinales competing in further races this year would be subject to discussion.
“At the moment, everything is possible,” Yamaha team manager Massimo Meregalli told BT Sport last weekend in regards to the possibility of Vinales racing again.
“The decision [to suspend him] was made here, it was made by us [in Europe]. We had some talks with Japan, but the first step was to suspend in view of this race.
“Then we will see what happens.”
Motorsport.com can now confirm Vinales will not race at the British GP, with Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow set to take over the second factory M1 alongside Fabio Quartararo for his home event.
Crutchlow, who retired at the end of 2020, has been deputising for the injured Franco Morbidelli at Petronas SRT for the Austrian double-header and was due to do the same at Silverstone.
His place at SRT for the British GP will be taken by SRT Moto2 rider Jake Dixon, who will make his MotoGP debut in front of his home crowd.
SRT will use the British GP outing to evaluate Dixon as one of its options for the 2022 season, with the team’s search for a new line-up in the wake of Morbidelli’s promotion to the factory squad in 2022 in place of Vinales and Valentino Rossi’s retirement becoming complicated in recent weeks.
Last Sunday Petronas announced it would be ending its title sponsorship of SRT for 2022, while Yamaha is set to only supply it with ‘B-spec’ machinery next year.
With limited options, SRT looks set to promote Darryn Binder straight from Moto3 to MotoGP next year, with the South African testing a Yamaha Superbike at Brno on Tuesday.
At this stage, it’s unclear whether Vinales’ suspension will extend only to Silverstone or if his days at Yamaha have come to a premature end.
Despite the rollout of vaccines to combat COVID-19 in 2021, the MotoGP calendar has still been heavily affected by the pandemic owing to fresh outbreaks and changing travel restrictions.
All but one flyaway race has already been cancelled for 2021, with the Japanese, Australian and Thailand races scrubbed from the calendar, as well as the Finnish GP – which was due to take place in July.
Due to a rise in COVID cases in Malaysia, Dorna Sports has been forced to make further alterations to the 2021 calendar and cancel the event at Sepang for a second year in a row.
The Malaysian GP will be replaced by a second event at Misano, which will oddly take over the October 24 slot originally intended for Sepang instead of forming a back-to-back with the San Marino GP.
The event is yet to be officially named. Last year’s second Misano race was known as the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
But two events at Misano is good news for Italian MotoGP fans, who will now get two opportunities to see Valentino Rossi race on home soil before his retirement at the end of 2021.
“The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports regret to announce the cancellation of the Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix, which was set to take place at Sepang International Circuit from the 22nd to the 24th of October,” a statement read.
“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting entry restrictions for Malaysia oblige the cancellation of the event.
“The FIM MotoGP World Championship looks forward to returning to Sepang in 2022 to race in front of our dedicated Malaysian fans.
“The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports are pleased to confirm that MotoGP will return to Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli from the 22nd to the 24th of October, the weekend previously scheduled for the Malaysian GP, for a second Grand Prix at the classic Italian track.
“The name of this event will be announced in due course.
“The date for the Gran Premio Octo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini remains unchanged.”
The addition of a second Misano race means MotoGP will have eight races on repeat circuits in 2021, following the double-header in Qatar and Austria, and a second round in Portugal scheduled for 7 November.
At present, the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin is still set to go ahead on October 3.
However, the COVID situation has reached a dire juncture Austin, with latest reports stating Austin has broken the record in the region for most patients in intensive care units with COVID-related illness.
An additional European MotoGP event also potentially poses problems for Brits in the paddock, with many close to the 90 days out of 180 they are allowed to travel through Europe without a visa under new Brexit guidelines.
After he tried to deliberately damage his M1’s engine during the final laps of the Styrian GP at the Red Bull Ring, Yamaha suspended Vinales and withdrew his entry from the following Austrian GP.
Vinales later apologised publicly to Yamaha, blaming his actions on mounting frustration at his situation during the race and at Yamaha in general.
The nine-time MotoGP race-winner was already set to part ways with Yamaha at the end of the 2021 season after requesting his two-year deal to be terminated early as the relationship between both parties soured irreparably across the campaign.
Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis said: “In Assen Yamaha and Vinales already announced the mutual decision to cut short their original 2021-2022 programme and to finish it at the end of 2021.
“A commitment was made by both rider and team to continue to the end of the current season, with the team guaranteeing its full support and the rider giving his maximum efforts so that we could finish the project ’in style‘.
“Regretfully at the Styrian GP the race did not go well or end well and consequently after deep consideration by both parties, the mutual decision was reached that it would be better for both parties if we end the partnership earlier.
“The early separation will release the rider to be free to follow his chosen future direction and will also permit the team to focus its efforts on the remaining races of the 2021 season with a replacement rider – yet to be determined.
“I would like to express Yamaha‘s sincere gratitude to Maverick.
“Yamaha will continue to cherish the good memories and appreciate the work both parties put into the 4.5 years spent together that brought us 8 race victories, 24 podiums, and two third places in the 2017 and 2019 overall rider standings.
“We wish Maverick all the very best in his future endeavours.”
Though a replacement rider is “yet to be determined”, Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow will ride the factory bike at Silverstone, with Moto2 rider Jake Dixon to make his MotoGP debut at Petronas SRT as Franco Morbidelli’s injury stand-in at Silverstone.
Vinales, who joined Yamaha in 2017 and won eight of his nine victories with the marque, said in a press release he will “always have great respect” for Yamaha.
This is the first a rider has parted ways with a team with immediate effect since KTM ousted the already outgoing Johann Zarco from the factory squad following the 2019 San Marino GP.
His sudden ending of his ties to Yamaha leaves him free to race elsewhere should the opportunity arise, meaning the door is open for Vinales to make his Aprilia race debut in 2021 should the marque wish it.
It seems Dovi might be back on the grid, possibly this season. Supposedly, the soon to be former Petronas satellite team might be getting a new Italian sponsor for next season. The team could partner an experienced rider like Dovi with a rookie. Dovi being Italian is a bonus. The other rider may be Brad Binder's younger brother Darryn. Darryn is currently in Moto 3, which means he'd skip over Moto 2. Current Petronas Moto 2 riders Jake Dixon and Xavi Vierge are also potential candidates.
The announcers indicated the Crutchlow may not be interested in replacing Vinales for the remainder of the season. Crutchlow would prefer to remain in the test rider role with limited subbing as needed. Dovi is being considered as a possible replacement for this season, either for Vinales' seat or Morbidelli's if Yamaha promote Morbidelli to the factory team this season.
Maverick Viñales will race for Aprilia for the remainder of the 2021 MotoGP season. On Wednesday, Aprilia announced that the Spaniard would be racing the bike in the Gresini Aprilia team alongside Aleix Espargaro starting from the next race at the Motorland Aragon circuit.
The decision was taken after Viñales rode the bike at a two-day private test at Misano. The fact that the decision was taken after just the first day is a very positive sign for the Spaniard, that he is adapting quickly to the bike. It was of course made possible by the fact that Yamaha released Viñales from his contract after the fiasco at the Styria Grand Prix. The Grand Prix Commission also had to approve the substitution.
The decision also means that Lorenzo Savadori will revert to his role as test rider. The fact that Savadori was still in considerable pain after surgery to fix the ankle he broke in a crash with Dani Pedrosa in the opening laps of the Styria Grand Prix made it an easier choice. Savadori will compete in a number of wildcards later this season, once his ankle has healed.
So, does Dovi get back on a Yamaha for the remainder of the season?
VR46 back to the senior team, AD & a fill-in at SRT, until FM is back to riding shape?
So, does Dovi get back on a Yamaha for the remainder of the season?
VR46 back to the senior team, AD & a fill-in at SRT, until FM is back to riding shape?
This has been one of the strangest silly seasons in a while. I didn't expect to see Dovi back, because early rumors indicated that the soon to be non-Petronas satellite team was going to have two younger riders next season. There were rumors that Yamaha wanted current rookie Moto 2 KTM rider Raul Fernandez, but he recently announced that he will remain with KTM and move up to the Tech 3 Moto GP team next season.
Dovi is supposedly going to be taking over Morbidelli's seat on the Petronas satellite team, and it looks like he might be there next season too.
Morbidelli is supposed to move up the factory team this season, possibly September 19th at Misano. I believe he was training on a non-Moto GP Yamaha bike earlier this week at the same track Vinales was testing the Aprilla on.
This has been one of the strangest silly seasons in a while. I didn't expect to see Dovi back, because early rumors indicated that the soon to be non-Petronas satellite team was going to have two younger riders next season. There were rumors that Yamaha wanted current rookie Moto 2 KTM rider Raul Fernandez, but he recently announced that he will remain with KTM and move up to the Tech 3 Moto GP team next season.
Dovi is supposedly going to be taking over Morbidelli's seat on the Petronas satellite team, and it looks like he might be there next season too.
Morbidelli is supposed to move up the factory team this season, possibly September 19th at Misano. I believe he was training on a non-Moto GP Yamaha bike earlier this week at the same track Vinales was testing the Aprilla on.
Petronas SRT WAS going to go the youth route. But now that they lost the Petronas sponsorship, they needed a big name to help secure new sponsorship. Dovi fits that bill.
Petronas SRT WAS going to go the youth route. But now that they lost the Petronas sponsorship, they needed a big name to help secure new sponsorship. Dovi fits that bill.
I am not discounting Dovi's abilities and I am glad he is getting a chance to race again. If rumors were true Yamaha really wanted Raul Fernandez. Even though he is a rookie in Moto 2, Fernandez's performance to date has been impressive and has generated a lot of interest. KTM wanted Fernandez to remain in Moto 2 for another season next year and Fernandez seemed to agree. Yamaha and possibly other manufacturers forced the issue.
The wild card is Italian Moto 2 rider Marco Bezzecchi. Most seem to think he going to be on Rossi's VR46 team in Moto GP next year, but I don't believe a contract has been signed yet. Maybe Yamaha will pursue him as a teammate for Dovi if they're looking at other riders besides Darryn Binder or Jake Dixon.
Michelin will continue as the official tyre supplier in MotoGP until at least the end of the 2026 season after securing a new three-year contract extension.
Having taken on the role of sole tyre supplier in the premier class back in 2016, it has played a key role in creating the closest competition across the championship's history, with 10 of the closest top 15 finishes of all-time being set since 2018.
Michelin had already been set to remain as the official tyre supplier in MotoGP until the end of 2023 thanks to its existing deal, with the new agreement covering the 2024, 2025 and 2026 world championship seasons.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, believes the recent period of close racing and historical feats makes the continuation of the partnership between Michelin and MotoGP an obvious one and is delighted with the deal.
"We're very proud to continue our partnership with Michelin until at least 2026," Ezpeleta said.
"Michelin has been a vital partner for MotoGP since it became the tyre supplier to the premier class in 2016, helping us to create one of the greatest eras of competition in motorcycle grand prix racing history.
"I'm delighted that we will reach a decade of collaboration and I hope we can continue building on this incredible foundation together. This agreement is fantastic news for all of us in the championship."
"We are very happy with the results we've obtained since Michelin's return to MotoGP. We are particularly proud of the technological progress made with our products, as well as the many records broken together with our partners," Florent Menegaux, CEO of Michelin, added.
"This championship offers fans a captivating spectacle, and it's accessible via digital platforms unparalleled in motorsport.
"Being a partner of MotoGP therefore represents a valuable opportunity for Michelin to engage the public and players across the discipline in its vision, brand, tyres and innovation.
"For Michelin, motorsport is a laboratory that encourages the transfer of its expertise and sustainable solutions for the benefit of everyone."
The new contract also includes Michelin taking the title sponsor slot for one grand prix in each season the deal covers.
Morbidelli has been long-expected to join the factory Yamaha squad next season following Maverick Vinales’ decision to quit the team a year earlier than planned back in June.
However, Vinales’ suspension following the Styrian Grand Prix and subsequent ousting mid-season by Yamaha has forced the Japanese manufacturer to promote Morbidelli from Petronas SRT early to take Vinales’ place.
Morbidelli has been sidelined since June after undergoing knee surgery and will return in this weekend’s San Marino Grand Prix – the scene of his maiden MotoGP victory last year.
Yamaha has also elected to lock the three-time MotoGP race winner into a long-term deal through to the end of 2023.
“I’m very pleased and happy about facing this weekend and this highly anticipated new chapter with the Factory Yamaha team,” Morbidelli said.
“I've been trying to recover as much as possible for the final stage of this championship.
“I wanted to make my comeback at a track I know well and have great memories of, like Misano.
”I'm looking forward to jumping on the bike and starting my journey with the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team.
“Of course, I need and I want to thank all the people who made this happen, starting with [Hiroshi] Ito-san, Lin [Jarvis], Maio [Meregalli], [Takahiro] Sumi-san, the VR46 Riders Academy, and all other people who made this collaboration possible.”
Dovizioso has spent most of 2021 on the sidelines having elected to take a sabbatical following his axing by Ducati at the end of the 2020 campaign.
The 15-time MotoGP race winner intended to mount a full-time return in 2022, which initially looked like it would come with Aprilia after he took up a testing programme with the Italian marque from April.
However, that avenue closed on him when Aprilia signed Vinales for 2022 instead – though Vinales’ ousting from Yamaha in the wake of his suspension after the Styrian Grand Prix and Franco Morbidelli’s promotion to its factory squad offered Dovizioso a lifeline.
He has been drafted in to replace Morbidelli for the rest of the year at SRT, and will remain with the team into 2022 aboard a factory Yamaha – signing directly with the Japanese marque.
SRT will become a new entity entirely in 2022 helmed by its current team management, as the current Sepang Racing outfit will quit MotoGP altogether at the end of this year after title sponsor Petronas elected to do the same.
“Racing with Yamaha has always been my dream, and that's why when the opportunity arrived I did not think twice, although I know it's going to be a tough challenge for me,” Dovizioso said.
"I've got many things ahead of me to learn: a new bike, a new team, a new working system.
“It‘s a big challenge that starts at Misano, my home GP. This makes it even more exciting. I can't wait to be aboard my M1!”
Dovizioso spent one season on a Yamaha back in 2012 when he rode for Herve Poncharal’s Tech 3 squad, with the Italian scoring five podiums that year before switching to the factory Ducati team in 2013.
The three-time championship runner-up will be Valentino Rossi’s fifth teammate in 2021, with Morbidelli’s knee injury back in June leading to the likes of Garrett Gerloff, Cal Crutchlow and Jake Dixon lining up on the ‘A-spec’ SRT M1.
An interesting development with the Morbidelli/Dovi announcement is that Petronas SRT's potential new Italian sponsor for next season may jump ship for the VR46 team instead. The Saudi led Tanal Entertainment sponsorship of VR46 for next season is supposedly off the table. Still no official announcement from VR46.
Following a serious incident during Race 1 of the Motul Spanish Round of the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, it is with great sadness that we report the passing of rider Dean Berta Viñales (Viñales Racing Team).
Berta Viñales was involved in a multi-rider incident at Turn 1, with the race immediately Red Flagged. Medical vehicles arrived at the site immediately and the rider was attended to on track, in the ambulance and at the circuit Medical Centre.
Despite the best efforts of the circuit medical staff, the Medical Centre has announced that Berta Viñales has sadly succumbed to his injuries.
Berta Viñales, cousin of MotoGP™ rider Maverick Viñales, was enjoying a recent run of good form in his rookie season in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship, claiming a best of fourth place at Magny-Cours in Race 2 and backing it up with sixth in Barcelona-Catalunya Race 2, having set the fastest lap in Race 1. He was showing great potential during the Motul Spanish Round, in the leading group and starting from his best Superpole result.
The FIM, Dorna Sports and the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto pass on our deepest condolences to Berta Viñales’ family, friends, team and loved ones.
Following the incident, the remainder of Saturday’s action at Jerez has been cancelled.
I logged into the WSBK website Saturday morning to watch the races, but it just displayed a message saying that the remaining Saturday events were cancelled. I figured it was bad.
That is the third young rider this season. Jason Dupasquier age 19, Hugo Millan age 14, and Vinales age 15. Very sad.
With not even a week passing since the death of his cousin, nine-time MotoGP race winner Vinales has elected to skip this weekend’s 15th round of the 2021 season in Texas.
Aprilia says it offers its “unconditional support” in Vinales’ decision not to race.
A brief statement from the team read: “Maverick Vinales will not be on the starting grid for the GP of the Americas scheduled this weekend on the circuit in Austin, Texas
“Less than a week has passed since the accident involving Dean Berta Vinales, Maverick’s young cousin, which is not enough time to regain the serenity needed to race.
“Maverick, with the full and unconditional support of Aprilia Racing, has therefore decided to take a break on his journey of getting to know the bike and team from Noale.
“The entire Aprilia Racing family supports this decision and stands with Maverick and his loved ones.
“There will be other times and other rounds to resume the promising journey begun together.
“A journey that must be entirely respectful of the people involved and their feelings.”
At this stage, it is not known when Vinales will return to action. This weekend’s Grand Prix of the Americas would have been the Spaniard’s third official outing with Aprilia, having joined the marque at Aragon following his sudden departure from Yamaha in August.
Ahead of last Sunday’s WSBK action at Jerez, a minute of silence was held on the grid for all of the paddock to pay tribute to the late Dean Berta Vinales.
Tragically, Vinales is the third teenager to have died in 2021 during international motorcycle racing events, with 14-year-old Hugo Milan killed in a crash in a European Talent Cup race at Aragon in July and 19-year-old Moto3 World Championship rider Jason Dupasquier passing away in May after a serious incident at Mugello.
Aprilia has not said if it will field test rider Lorenzo Savadori in Vinales’ place this weekend in America.
The Moto 3 race was red flagged due a crash. There was some down time and then the race was started again. Version 2 ended up being red flagged too. There was a bad accident involving four riders. See the YouTube video.
Deniz Oncu cut across Jeremy Alcoba's racing line, hit Alcoba's front wheel, and caused him to crash. Two trailing riders, Andrea Migno and Pedro Acosta, had no time to react and hit Alcoba's bike. Acosta was the second to hit the bike and glanced off the fencing as he slid down the side of the track. Acosta is one of KTM's top prospects and is currently leading the Moto 3 championship. Thankfully, none of the riders were seriously hurt. Oncu has been banned for the next two races.
The FIM Stewards took a very serious view of Öncü's riding, which went directly against the instructions issued at the start of the weekend. They also regarded it as a deliberate move to try to block Alcoba, which deserved extra punishment. For that reason, they decided to impose a ban of two races, suspending Öncü for the Misano 2 and Portimão races. The FIM Stewards have been trying to clamp down on bad behavior, especially in the Moto3 class, in light of the spate of deaths which have happened this year. The Stewards have tried a range of penalties to try to discourage dangerous riding, especially during practice and qualifying, but this is the most severe penalty handed out in some time. Whether it will be effective in dissuading Öncü and other Moto3 riders from indulging in dangerous riding, only time will tell. Deniz Öncü Banned For Two Races For Causing Crash In Restarted Moto3 Race | MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks
Having taken part in a two-day 2022 test in Jerez on the 18th and 19th of November this year, the MotoGP™ class will have two tests early in 2022, plus the shakedown test at Sepang International Circuit for factory test riders and rookies only. The second test will take place at the new Mandalika International Street Circuit in Indonesia. Set up takes place on the two days preceding MotoGP™ tests.
-Shakedown Test: 31st January – 2nd February -Sepang Test: 5th – 6th February -Mandalika Test: 11th – 13th February
The Moto2™ and Moto3™ classes will have one test at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto. Set up takes place on the day preceding the Moto2™ and Moto3™ test.
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is pleased to confirm the signing of an agreement with RNF Racing Ltd. The freshly branded WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team is set for a new era as part of the Yamaha line-up in 2022 and possibly 2023 and 2024.
Sepang Racing Team is rebranded RNF MotoGP Team, with former CEO of Sepang International Circuit and Team Principal Razlan Razali remaining at the helm. The team has signed a five-year deal with IRTA that sees the remodelled set-up continue participating as an Independent Team in the premier class of the FIM MotoGP World Championship until 2026.
The signed agreement between Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and RNF Racing Ltd. foresees the satellite team leasing Yamaha YZR-M1 motorcycles for 2022, with the option to extend the partnership for the 2023 and 2024 FIM MotoGP World Championship seasons...
I'm assuming they'll still be running B-spec or 1 year old bikes, with the factory team getting the newest/bestest?
Not sure that has been decided yet. Initially, they were saying Dovi would get a factory spec bike and Little Brother Binder would get a B-spec. Similar to Rossi/Morbidelli at the beginning of this season. I doubt Yamaha views Dovi as a threat to Quartararo, and having Dovi on a factory spec bike gives them more data and help with development.
The other interesting news today is that Ducati will supply the Moto E bikes starting in 2023. Dorna seems to be getting more serious about the Moto E series. They're planning to double the number of races next year, although they will still likely only race at European tracks to save money.
Dorna Sports and Ducati are delighted to announce a new partnership, with the legendary Italian motorcycle marque set to become the single manufacturer for a new era of the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup from 2023 to 2026. The announcement was made in a special Press Conference on Thursday at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli ahead of the Gran Premio Nolan del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia Romagna, with Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta joining Ducati Motor Holding CEO Claudio Domenicali to reveal the new project...
That's a huge difference between MGP & F1, in F1 all teams have full parity on the engine/power unit, but have to develop their own chassis/aero.
Caught me off guard when Bastianini was referred to as riding a 2 year old bike. Didn't realize there was so much difference from team to team, but I suppose GP is slightly more road relevant, in that it's not far off from being an ultra extreme version of the bike you can buy at the dealer.
That's a huge difference between MGP & F1, in F1 all teams have full parity on the engine/power unit, but have to develop their own chassis/aero.
Caught me off guard when Bastianini was referred to as riding a 2 year old bike. Didn't realize there was so much difference from team to team, but I suppose GP is slightly more road relevant, in that it's not far off from being an ultra extreme version of the bike you can buy at the dealer.
Well, that's actually something relatively new in F1 as well. In the not too distant past, the factory teams had exclusive use of the newest engines. It wasn't out of the ordinary for customer teams in F1 to have year old engines.
Right, but it was usually B-spec or 1 year prior, IIRC. At least since 2014 when I got back into watching seriously.
GP, you've got teams running 2019 spec machines.
Not sure, but that might be due to COVID. Typically, satellite teams in Moto GP have 1-year old/B-spec bikes unless they're having major budget issues. Morbidelli was also on a 2019 spec Yamaha before taking time off for surgery. Yamaha's team boss said that COVID screwed up companies, sponsors, and suppliers. If not for COVID, he said that they might have been able to give Morbidelli a current A-spec bike like Rossi. Rossi and Vinales said that the 2019 was a better bike compared to the 2020.
Bastianini's bike might technically be a hybrid of the 2019 and 2020. I thought that is what he said during an interview.
Loved the emotion shown by Quartararo after the race. He needs to do some work on his post race celebrations though, as Marquez is still the king of theatrics.
I predicted that Valentino would throw something (like his gloves) into the stands after the race like days gone by. Did not expect him to throw his helmet though.
No problem. Avintia Ducati was always a lower tier team compared to the Pramac Ducati team. One of the Pramac riders has been used to help test parts for the factory team. It used to be Jack Miller and now it is likely Zarco.
The situation with Avintia/VR46 changed somewhat this season with Bastianini and Marini. Bastianini was the Moto 2 champion last year and has earned a little more factory support compared to past riders. Marini is Rossi's half brother and sponsored by VR46, which probably has a larger budget.
It will be interesting to see what Honda does with Nakagami and Alex Marquez next season. I am guessing they'll keep Alex and maybe replace Nakagami with a younger rider. There is a Japanese Moto 2 rider, Ai Ogura, that has shown promise. There have been rumors that Honda are interested in him, but he is still in his rookie season.
VR46 will enter three teams in two grand prix classes next season, while also having 'supporting' agreements with a pair of Moto3 outfits.
Alongside the full MotoGP entry with Ducati, VR46 will double its presence in the Moto2 class by running a second team for Yamaha Master Camp riders.The VR46 Master Camp Team currently competes in the CEV Moto2 European championship, helping Yamaha develop young riders for the future. This year's line-up features Thai competitors Keminth Kubo and Peerapong Boonlert, Frenchman Andy Verdoïa and McKinley Paz from the Philippines.
But for Moto3, the first step on the grand prix ladder, VR46 will continue to rely on placing its Academy riders within other teams.
"In 2022, VR46 will race with two teams in Moto2, including one [new] project with Yamaha. That project will come from the Spanish championship, it's already there, so now it's growing up and coming to the world championship," explained VR46 team manager Pablo Nieto.
"Then it's the same VR46 team as we have now in Moto2 and then MotoGP with Ducati with the two riders that also everyone knows [Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi, still to be officially confirmed].
"In Moto3 we will support let's say two teams, Snipers and Avintia, but they are separate [from VR46]. We don’t have anything except an agreement that we will put some riders from the Academy in there, which is important for us because we have so many riders from the Academy to grow up.
"For us it was so difficult to continue to have the VR46 team in Moto3. I think we have to concentrate our [efforts] because we have a lot of things to do. It's important to make some deals with other teams [for Moto3]."
For now, Nieto expects the official VR46 teams to stick with their primary goal of helping young Italian riders reach MotoGP.
"At the moment our project is to try to bring young riders from Italy to the world championship and then MotoGP class," he said. "I think at the moment we will continue like this.
"We have four riders in MotoGP (next year), so it means the Academy is working really good and the results are there."
While VR46's 2022 MotoGP riders, Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi, are an open secret, it remains to be seen who will be chosen to join Celestino Vietti in Moto2 and who Yamaha will select for the Master Camp seats.
Both the official VR46 MotoGP and Moto2 teams are due to have new title sponsorship from Aramco next season. Doubts have been cast over the deal, but Nieto says slow progress is being made.
"As you know we made the agreement with Aramco and things are going very slow," he said. "There are some delays, but we are on the way and have to keep working."
The current list of 'official' VR46 Academy Riders:
1. Franco Morbidelli (MotoGP)
2. Francesco Bagnaia (MotoGP)
3. Luca Marini (MotoGP)
4. Marco Bezzecchi (Moto2)
5. Celestino Vietti (Moto2)
6. Stefano Manzi (Moto2)
7. Niccolò Antonelli (Moto3)
8. Andrea Migno (Moto3)
9. Alberto Surra (Moto3)
08-17-2021, 09:39 AM
