Provisional 2022 MotoGP entry list, Aramco absent from VR46

The provisional entry list for the 2022 MotoGP World Championship has been released.

While the identity of all 24 riders, teams and bikes was already known, the list is notable for the absence of Aramco as title sponsor of the new VR46 Ducati team, underlining rumours that the previously announced deal may not materialise.

"In 2022 the VR46 Team will debut in the MotoGP class together with Tanal Entertainment Sport & Media with Saudi Aramco, as the new Main Sponsor for the period 2022-2026," read a press release from Tanal Entertainment Sport & Media in April of this year.

"As you know we made the agreement with Aramco and things are going very slow," team manager Pablo Nieto said recently. "There are some delays, but we are on the way and have to keep working."

VR46 are not the only independent team missing a previously announced title sponsor, with Flex-Box having been due to back the new Gresini Ducati project but not currently present.

Otherwise, the list confirms that new world champion Fabio Quartararo will keep the #20, plus the chosen race numbers for the rookies: Remy Gardner (87), Raul Fernandez (25), Fabio di Giannantonio (49), Marco Bezzecchi (72) and Darryn Binder (40).

Satellite bike spec is not included on official entry lists, but the independent teams with both riders on the latest 2022 machinery will be: Pramac Ducati (Johann Zarco, Jorge Martin), Tech3 KTM (Remy Gardner, Raul Fernandez) and LCR Honda (Alex Marquez, Takaaki Nakagami). 

VR46 Ducati will then have 2022 bikes for Luca Marini and 2021-spec for Marco Bezzecchi. Likewise, the new RNF Yamaha team will have Andrea Dovizioso on 2022-spec M1s and 2021-spec for Darryn Binder.

Both Gresini riders, Enea Bastianini and Fabio di Giannantonio, are due to have 2021 Desmosedicis.

The 2022 line-up will be on track this Thursday and Friday for the Jerez Test, the final official MotoGP track action of the year…