Get To Know Five New Arrivals In MotoGP 2022

Darryn Binder, the most special 2022 MotoGP rookie because he jumped straight from Moto3 without ever feeling the competition in Moto2. (Photo: MotoGP.com)

JAKARTA - The hot competition for MotoGP 2022 is not only in the struggle for the world title. The competition for the five newcomers will also be fierce, with the presence of 5 rookie riders namely Raul Fernandez, Remy Gardner, Marco Bezzecchi, Fabio Di Giannantonio, and Darryn Binder adding to the fierceness of MotoGP this season. Meanwhile, the Moto3 racer Binder, who immediately jumped into MotoGP, required a longer adaptation process compared to his four rivals who had experienced Moto2.

If you look at the background of the five, all of them have achievements that cannot be underestimated. Gardner and Fernandez, for example, are Moto2 champions and runners-up in 2021. Both of them managed to level up to MotoGP after getting the title. Can both of them be strong candidates for the best rookie MotoGP 2022?

Raul Fernadez, the 2021 Moto2 runner-up who now races in MotoGP and defends the Tech3 KTM team. (Photo: MotoGP.com)

For Gardner and Fernandez, being the champions and runners up of Moto2 2021 will be a big capital. At least in terms of confidence and skill. When competing in Moto2, both of them were known as master racers who had a good strategy.

On paper, Gardner and Fernandez who defend the Tech3 KTM team are superior. They are equipped with a KTM RC16 motorbike with factory specifications as used by the Austrian factory team's main riders, Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder.

The other three rookies will get last year's spec bikes with some improvements.

The two debutant riders are believed by the Head of the Tech3 team, Herve Poncharal, to be competitive this season.

“They have great talent and a winning mentality, which was shown in the Moto3 and Moto2 classes. Their target is not only in the top 10, but also to be in the top five, and to be the best rookie at the end of the season," he told The Race.

Time Record Analysis

Based on the time spent during the tests analyzed, Fernandez took the lead in the first two trials of the day at the Sepang Circuit on 5 February. Fernandez is the most consistent in every timeframe, which is under 1 minute 40 seconds. Fernandez's time on the first day surpassed Gardner who could not score under 1 minute 40 seconds.

Di Giannantonio, who defended Gresini Ducati with the Desmosedici GP21 motorbike, became a rider other than Fernandez who broke 1 minute 40 seconds. Bezzecchi, who is currently defending the Mooney VR46 team, is on the same level as Gardner. Meanwhile, Binder who defended RNF Yamaha could only score under 1 minute 42 seconds, quoted from The Race.

However, one name that stole the public's attention, for skipping class, was Darryn Binder. Why? Because riders who compete in MotoGP and have rookie status usually come from Moto2. Binder departs from Moto3 riders, who go straight to the MotoGP mat. Binder like the Australian racer, Jack Miller. In 2015 Miller entered MotoGP on the LCR Honda team, without having had the chance to experience racing in Moto2.

Tech3 KTM Racing racer from Australia, Remy Gardner. The 2021 Moto2 Champion who inherited the greatness of his father who won the 1987 GP500, Wayne Gardner. (Photo: MotoGP.com)

Binder, 24, is the younger brother of Brad Binder, a MotoGP rider from Red Bull KTM. He became the second rider in history to jump from Moto3 straight to MotoGP. In his seven-year career in Moto3, Binder has made six podiums including celebrating his first win in Catalunya in 2020.

Binder will partner with three-time MotoGP runner-up Andrea Dovizioso this season at WithU Yamaha RNF, formerly Petronas Yamaha SRT. After being left by Petronas as its main sponsor at the end of 2021, the SRT team continued their journey in MotoGP with a new brand, namely RNF Racing, and partnered with Italian sponsor WithU.

This of course makes the competition for rookie racers in 2022 even more interesting. This rivalry is reminiscent of Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini, who managed to provide great entertainment for MotoGP fans last year.

Motor Used

Usually, rookies will use old motorbikes, so it will be difficult to compete. But Gardner and Fernandez use the 2022 KTM RC16 bike. The same bike used by the factory team and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing main driver.

While Bezzecchi, Di Giannantonio, and Binder will use the motorbike with the 2021 version from their respective factory teams. The first two names will ride the Ducati Desmosedici GP21, and Binder is believed to use the 2021 Yamaha YZR-M1 version.

Of course, the competition for the best rookie title will be very exciting this year. Each rookie rider has his own character and uniqueness, to be brought to the 2022 MotoGP. Hopefully this year's event will be even more exciting.