Dissecting The Competition In MotoGP 2022 And Potential Replacement For Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi, his departure from the MotoGP event opened up competition for racers to fight for the top throne of premium motorcycle racing. (Photo: Dorna Sports)

JAKARTA - MotoGP 2022 has started, a number of names are starting to be predicted to become champions in the racing arena of the kings class. Names such as Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo, and Marc Marquez often decorate predictions in various media reviews and potential surprises from Enea Bastianini, the Gresini Racing rider thanks to his surge in performance with the Ducati Desmosedici GP21. MotoGP 2022 also becomes the stage for new stars.

The MotoGP universe has the opportunity to experience changes in the 2022 season. The dynamics that have occurred in the last few months, will be the first year of MotoGP without their legend, Valentino Rossi aka "The Doctor". Although in the last three years his performance has decreased, Rossi still has a big impact on the excitement of the most prestigious motorcycle racing event.

MotoGP riders pose together to promote the 2022 MotoGP racing season. (Photo: MotoGP.com)

In addition, MotoGP 2022 also has a new team Mooney VR46. This team was formed by Valentino Rossi, who was also fronted by several Rossi crew from the Petronas Yamaha SRT team. Do Rossi's protégés at Mooney VR46, Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi, have a golden opportunity to compete with a number of other top names?.

In addition to the new team, the race for the MotoGP world title is also marked by the presence of a new circuit that can provide a different experience, namely the Mandalika Lombok Circuit.

Who is the figure who will have a long career like Valentino Rossi, even worthy of becoming a MotoGP legend?

Strongest Team Rank

Quoted from the old The Race, well-known observers of motorcycle racing, such as Simon Patterson, Valentin Khorounzhiy, and Matt Beer, gathered and ranked the composition of the teams and riders in MotoGP 2022.

Monster Energy Yamaha (Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli)

Monster Energy Yamaha is at the top. The defending champion Fabio Quartararo is certainly a mainstay to reap achievements in the 2022 MotoGP. Now, it is only Franco Morbidelli who is expected to fully recover from his injury so that he can perform well next season.

Fabio Quartararo is the only top racer who is not satisfied with the performance of the 2022 Yamaha YZR-M1. He thinks that his new motorbike is not too different from the 2021 M1 which led him to his first MotoGP title.

"El Diablo" Fabio Quartararo, the reigning MotoGP champion who has yet to find a match with his new bike in the factory Yamaha team. (Photo: MotoGP.com)

El Diablo remains focused on finding ways to compensate for the M1's shortcomings. That mentality will be the key to whether he can defend his title this season and cement his title as the "anti-Marquez".

Ducati Lenovo (Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller)

There are still some question marks about Jack Miller's consistency and Francesco Bagnaia's tendency to make silly mistakes in the Qatar MotoGP series. But on the other hand, Bagnaia did well last year and Miller is a great asset. They both have the opportunity to give the MotoGP title to Ducati Lenovo.

Suzuki Ecstar (Joan Mir and Alex Rins)

Joan Mir is predicted to continue to defend his championship title with an outdated motorbike in MotoGP 2022. Despite failing, many think Mir is better than his teammate, Alex Rins, who often crashed last season. Suzuki Ecstar also hopes that the two riders can perform better next season.

Pramac Ducati (Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco)

Before and after his severe injury at Portimao, Jorge Martin was sensational until he became Rookie of the Year in MotoGP 2021. His team-mate, Johann Zarco, is a surprise title challenger for the first half of the 2021 season. Their combination is still Pramac Ducati's strength.

Jorge Martin of the Pramac Ducati team fell and failed to continue racing in the first series of the 2022 MotoGP at the Losail Circuit, Qatar on March 6. (Photo: MotoGP.com)

Repsol Honda (Marc Marquez/Pol Espargaro)

Marquez has now returned to his best form as he recovers from an injury that has haunted him for the last 1.5 years. Besides that, the special feeling with the RC213V, a motorbike that is claimed to have come out of the "shell" of Honda, continues to grow. The new motorbike is believed to be out of Honda's philosophy all this time, which is to follow Marquez's racing style.

Espargaro also feels this condition has raised his confidence to compete in the top flight this season. This condition is different from last season, when he was unable to apply his riding style which relies on rear tire traction with hard braking.

Beware of Enea Bastianini the "Beastia"

Enea Bastianini, a Gresini Racing rider, has the potential to be a surprise in MotoGP 2022 thanks to his surge in performance with the Ducati Desmosedici GP21. Valentino Rossi even considered that he shot like a devil when he grabbed his first podium at Misano, last season.

Enea Bastianini has been in the spotlight since the final test of the 2021 season at the Jerez Circuit. He became a much faster rider on the stable Ducati Desmosedici GP21, faster but with a softer power delivery compared to the GP19.

And the peak, starting from second position in the MotoGP 2022 series opener at the Lusail International Circuit, Qatar, Sunday 6 March. He was flanked by Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin who took pole position, as well as eight-time champion in all classes, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) in the third starting position.

Gresini Ducati team rider, Enea Bastianini celebrates his victory in the first MotoGP 2022 series which was held at the Losail Circuit, Qatar on March 6. (Photo: MotoGP.com) (

After winning in Qatar, Enea Bastianini has good capital to become one of the challengers for this season's title by bringing home 25 points from the Qatar 2022 MotoGP. Using a one-year-old Ducati Desmosedici GP21 motorbike, Enea Bastianini cannot be underestimated.

Interestingly, Bastianini's victory has a strong Indonesian nuance. This can be seen from a number of sponsors who came from Indonesia such as Federal Oil, Aspira, and Antangin, Bold Riders, to Wonderful Indonesia. There is also KYT, an original Indonesian helmet

However, the results in the Qatar MotoGP, cannot be used as a benchmark to determine who can win the title, but the strength of each rider can be seen at this time. Each team can still improve its bike and perform well in the following races.