The 2022 MotoGP season sans retired Italian legend Valentino Rossi is expected to see the ‘toughest-ever’ battle for the world title, with top contenders eyeing a perfect start to their campaigns at Sunday’s Grand Prix of Qatar.
When reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP will open his title defence at the Losail International Circuit under lights, the Frenchman will face a huge challenge in the presence of formidable opponents in 2020 world champion Joan Mir of Team Suzuki Ecstar, 2021 runner-up Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati Lenovo Team, Brad Binder of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Aprilia Racing’s Maverick Viñales.
Adding spice to the season is the return of Repsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez, who will be looking to equal Rossi’s tally of seven MotoGP titles this year.
The top riders, who spoke at the pre-event press conference, admitted a tough task awaits them in the 21-race season to be competed among immensely fast riders.
Quartararo, who won the 2021 world title with a 26-point lead over Bagnaia, said the field is more competitive than ever.
“It’s so difficult. Last year you could say five or six riders but now I could say anyone. Of course the guys that are here today, but it’s difficult to say a few. We will need to wait a little bit more to see the clear opponents,” the 22-year-old Yamaha star said yesterday.
“I remember maybe 10 years ago we had a few riders and then the rest, but now basically everything is so tight and the level of riders is really high. Now I think it’s the closest ever and it will be fun.”
Sitting confidently behind Quartararo at the press conference was Marquez, who is making a return after struggling due to injuries and double-vision problems in the last two seasons. The Spaniard, however, showed glimpse of his brilliance at the Sepang and Mandalika tests.
“After what we have overcome recently my motivation to start the season is huge, we have come through something difficult and now it’s time to enjoy,” Marquez said.
“But not just enjoying riding, enjoying competing and enjoying fighting at the front again.”
The 29-year-old, who last raced in Qatar in 2019, said he will use his full experience to fight for the world title.
“This is my tenth year in the MotoGP class and now I am one of the most experienced in the class, there are many new competitors but the goal is still the same: to fight for the World Championship.”
“We arrive with a new bike, so we need to see how it behaves in Qatar, but we have built a good base and I am looking forward to the weekend and to racing again,” said Marquez, who has won in Qatar just once, when he claimed the 2014 title ahead of Rossi and team-mate Dani Pedrosa.
Meanwhile, Bagnaia expressed his confidence in his bike going into the season opener.
“We have prepared the bike to race well in Qatar. Our pace and consistency was OK,” he said before adding a tight competition will be good for the sport.
“It’s something good for the show, but I think years ago, the way of working was different. Now you have to do the time attack. I was feeling years ago, I was doing the time attack my first year in MotoGP and with the
lap time I did in 2020 I was fifth, and this year like 17th; a big difference,” he added.
The 2020 world champion Mir was happy with the improvement in his bike, hoping for a fine start to the season.
“I’m happy about how everything is going. I felt an improvement on the bike and it looks like we have a little more top speed and that’s always really important. The winter was good and I trained well and got some rest as well to have the batteries fully charged for the first races.”
The 24-year-old also predicted a tough season.
“During the test on the last day it looked like a qualifying but it means that there’s a lot of competitiveness between the manufacturers and riders and everything, for the show it’s amazing,” he said.
Aprilia’s Vinales, who won the Qatar GP for second time last year, said his team will have to take one step at a time.
“I think we have to remain calm. To win a race in MotoGP you need to put a lot of points together, and I still don’t think we are ready,” he said.
“But sometimes MotoGP is crazy and you can do it, however, we need to keep working, improve some points of the bike and improve some points of my riding style.
“Whatever the result is here in Qatar we will improve step-by-step. I’m not ready with this bike but we have a lot of potential,” he added.
Riders will be seen in action at the free practice, which begins at 13:40 at the Losail International Circuit, today.
