Dovizioso, Binder 'excited' ahead of RNF debut in Qatar
What a difference a year makes.
The 2021 MotoGP season began with Petronas SRT running Valentino Rossi and Franco Morbidelli for their third year as Yamaha's satellite team.
But it's all change for 2022 with Petronas pulling out of MotoGP, SRT replaced by RNF, Rossi retiring, Morbidelli moving to the factory Yamaha team, with Andrea Dovizioso and rookie Darryn Binder arriving in their place.
The constants include Yamaha YZR-M1 machinery (Factory and A-Spec) plus the presence of team boss Razlan Razali, team manager Wilco Zeelenberg and Morbidelli's former crew.
“We are ready!" said Razali ahead of this weekend's Qatar season opener. "We look forward to the first race and I’m sure this is the same for fans around the globe.
"We have had some decent testing in Sepang and Mandalika with both riders trying to understand their machinery, especially Darryn Binder, being the rookie of the rookies from Moto3 to MotoGP.
"[Qatar] will be another first for us as a new team on a race weekend. On Darryn's side, we have nearly all new team members, so it’s going to be a challenge.
"But we are ready. A lot of preparations have been made and we’re looking forward to the first race and to entertain the MotoGP fans all around the world!”
Dovizioso wasn't on the grid at Qatar last year, but after returning to MotoGP with SRT from Misano the Italian will now be starting his 20th full season of grand prix racing.
"I’m really happy and can’t wait to go to Qatar," said Dovizioso, who the season-opener Ducati in 2018 and 2019.
"The Losail International Circuit is a nice track and I have very good memories there from recent years.
"Obviously, this makes me very excited not just to arrive there, but also to ride this layout with my Yamaha YZR-M1 and at the same time, to start the season!”
Dovizioso finished pre-season testing in 19th place and, although only 0.8s from the top, has admitted he still needs to adapt further to the Yamaha style.
Binder meanwhile stood on the podium twice in Qatar last season… in the Moto3 class. The South African, the first rider to jump directly to MotoGP from the junior category since Jack Miller in 2015, steadily built his experience and speed during pre-season testing to finish 1.9s from the top.
“I’m super excited to be heading back to Qatar," said Binder, one of five rookies on this year's grid. "I have very good memories from the two races there last year. On top of that, I’m even more excited as it’s my MotoGP debut.
"We’ve had eight days of testing so far this year. We’ve been taking it step by step and I’m feeling confident that I feel at least comfortable on the bike. I’m ready to start the GP weekend in Qatar and just take it as it comes, lap by lap.
"We’ll have to see how it goes and where we are and work from there. I’m really looking forward to get this first race under my belt and move on to the next one. I can’t wait to get to Doha!”
Morbidelli and Rossi finished a best of tenth in the pair of Qatar races last season.
Free practice for the 2022 event starts on Friday afternoon.
