TEAM SUZUKI ECSTAR GEARING UP FOR 2022 SEASON

With the start of a new MotoGP season just around the corner, preparations are well underway for Team Suzuki Ecstar as they prepare to tackle 2022 with Joan Mir and Alex Rins.

With a new look GSX-RR, which is upgraded not only on the surface but also under the fairings, the entire team are highly motivated and eager for trophies. 2021 may have been a tough challenge, but with their constant strive for success, the squad managed to close the year with Mir in the Top 3 and the goal for this year is simple: Podiums, prizes and points.

Suzuki’s Spaniards will put the new GSX-RR through its paces at the forthcoming Sepang Test and early feedback has given both riders a boost as it suggests a well-rounded bike with improved competitiveness.

Both Mir and Rins have had a promising and successful off-season, balancing time out with hard training and track laps. After Mir finished 3rd in the championship last year, his goal for 2022 is clear: Fighting for the top spot. Rins is aiming to add more consistency to his undoubtable speed and powerful performances.

The 2022 GSX-RR boasts a brand new paint scheme with the black flashes adding attitude to the slick, and now familiar, blue and silver. And an updated logo, a combination of retro and modern Suzuki stylings, can also be found on the bike, clothes, leathers, and team trucks.

Tying all this together is a fresh hashtag and slogan for the 2022 season; #GearingUp. This new phrase is designed to inspire fans to join the team in gearing up for an exciting year ahead, but also to show the intentions of the team – an improvement in performance and the idea of pushing everything up one gear compared with 2021.

Pre-season testing will take place on February 5th and 6th at Sepang International Circuit, followed by three days at Mandalika Circuit in Indonesia – the paddock’s first visit – from February 11th to 13th. The MotoGP™ season will then begin with the first race in Qatar on March 6th.

The 2022 season will be a tough challenge for everyone as the world is still dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the paddock personnel are also facing the longest championship ever with 21 races in the calendar and the debut of some new circuits such as Indonesia and Finland.

Joan Mir:

“I took some time during the winter to relax and shut off after a tricky 2021 season. I was happy to finish 3rd in the championship but I’m hungry for more, and it was important to reset so that I could focus 100% on achieving my maximum. My pre-season training has gone well and I’m feeling fit and ready to attack. I’m looking forward to getting back on my bike, the tests that took place at the end of last year showed an improved performance that I’m happy with, so now it’s time to show the new livery and put more laps in ahead of the season start in around one month’s time.”

Alex Rins:

“The new GSX-RR looks amazing, and it also performs well! I’m really happy to be nearing the start of a new season. I’ve done a lot of training during the break, not only in the gym but also on my GSX-R1000R street bike. However, nothing compares to our race bike at the circuits. It’s nice to reunite with the team, we are all focused on the same goal and I trust in them, we’ve all shown that we’re ready to achieve great things. The test days will be important, but we can’t wait for the first race in Qatar!”

Shinichi Sahara – Team Suzuki Ecstar Project Leader and Team Director:

“The off-season has been a very busy one with a lot of hard work, both in Europe and in Japan. Everybody has been putting in a huge effort to prepare for a new season where we hope to be more competitive. We have a lot of trust in our project, and in our two riders, and we are keen to get started – not only in testing but racing. Our GSX-RR looks impressive and with support from our key sponsors, fans and team members we want to put it on the top step as soon as possible. During the last test in Jerez we saw great potential in the new components, and the feedback from our test rider Sylvain Guintoli as well as Joan and Alex, was pretty positive. Because of this we started the winter break with some nice vibes and in good spirits. Let’s see what we can show in this exciting new season.”

Ken Kawauchi – Team Suzuki Ecstar Technical Manager:

“I must start by thanking the entire team and factory for the work they’ve done during this short winter break. Our 2021 machine was balanced and competitive, but it was important to take a big step forward in 2022 to meet our goals. As we’ve seen, MotoGP is incredibly close with many fast riders and teams, and we want to secure our place on the podium. The 2022 GSX-RR has a similar base to last year’s bike but with a few crucial updates, especially in the area of engine performance. We wanted to maintain the manageability of our bike, which has always been strong in cornering and stability, while improving the power delivery. With help from all the engineers in Japan and Europe we feel we’ve achieved this, so now it’s time to test it on track with our riders.”

MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP READY FOR 2022 TITLE QUEST

Sepang (Malaysia), 4th February 2022

Today, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team held their Online Team Presentation to officially open their 2022 campaign. Spearheaded by two young and competitive riders, Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli, the team is eager for the 2022 MotoGP World Championship kick-off in Qatar in March.

To set the tone for the upcoming MotoGP season, newly-appointed General Manager Motorsports Development Division of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. Takahiro Sumi, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Principal & Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director Lin Jarvis, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Director Massimo Meregalli, Factory Yamaha riders Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli, and Monster Energy‘s Senior Vice President of Sports Marketing Mitch Covington shared their thoughts on the team‘s past successes as well as its 2022 potential.

The colour scheme of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP bikes remains the same for 2022, with the team‘s YZR-M1, the pit box, and the riders‘ leathers sporting a ’Monster Energy black‘ to ’Yamaha Factory Racing blue‘ gradient. The perfect blend between Yamaha‘s aesthetic and Monster Energy‘s instantly recognisable claw branding is also represented in the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team logo and on the team uniforms.

Yamaha has a long-term global alliance with the team‘s title sponsor, Monster Energy Company, based on their mutual passion for racing. A multiple-year title sponsorship agreement with the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team was signed in the summer of 2018 and came naturally, as Monster Energy Company sponsors multiple Yamaha teams (among them the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP team since 2013) and riders (including Quartararo and Morbidelli) in various racing classes.

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP is also pleased to announce that throughout the 2022 racing season the bike will continue to feature the slogans of Thai Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Yamaha Motor Philippines, and PT Yamaha Indonesia Motor Manufacturing, starting from the first two IRTA Tests held from 5-6 February in Sepang, Malaysia and from 11-13 February in Mandalika, Indonesia.

The team also welcomes with open arms their new Official Sponsors in 2022, including:

– MSI, the most trusted name in gaming and eSports;

– Debem, a cutting-edge company specialized in designing and producing industrial pumps for highly demanding environments;

– Tanida, a global leader company in sand casting;

– Pont Grup, a company specialized in providing insurance broker services to individuals, with more than 25 years of experience;

– Capit, leader in the production of professional tyre warmers since 1996;

– Axalta, a global coating company focused on providing customers with innovative colourful and sustainable solutions. Their logos will be gracing the team assets.

Moreover, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team is delighted to confirm the continuation of its relationship with numerous Official Sponsors and Official Partners, including:

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

– Monster Energy Company

– Eneos

– Blue Core

– Yamalube

– Akrapovic

– Yamaha Indonesia Motor Manufacturing/Semakin Di Depan

– Yamaha Motor Philippines/MIO

– MSI

– Thailand Yamaha Motor/Beyond the Limits

– Oakley

– Alpinestars

– VR46

– bLU cRU

– Gilles Tooling

– RCB

– Furukawa Electrics

– Debem

– Tanida

– DID

– NGK Spark Plugs

– BMC Air Filters

– Pont Grup

– Capit

– 2D

– BETA Tools

– Axalta

– Yamaha Corporation (Yamaha Music)

– Michelin

OFFICIAL PARTNERS 

– Alpinestars

– Siemens-LMS

– BLS

– BETA Tools

– GOM

– RCM

– Toyota Material Handling

– 3M Peltor

– ParkingGO

– Flex

– Synlab

– Airbank

HOSPITALITY PARTNERS 

– Mokador

– Ca’ dei Frati

– Pastificio Artigiano Fabbri

– Macelleria Belli

– Azienda Olearia del Chianti

For 2022, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team continue their alliance with VR46 Racing Apparel. They will manufacture the official teamwear, all provided with a prominent VR46 Racing Apparel logo. Identical official teamwear products will be on sale to Yamaha fans throughout the global dealer network and at racetrack merchandise sales points.

Additionally, eagle-eyed fans will spot the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP staff and riders don new facemasks supplied by BLS. The team is delighted to have them as a new Official Partner, as the team continuously strives to enhance its safety measures to keep riders and staff safe and healthy throughout the whole championship season amidst the ongoing global pandemic.

Furthermore, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team continue to support Yamaha‘s bLU cRU programme, encouraging a younger generation of on-road riders to follow their dream to become the next motorcycle racing star. Quartararo and Morbidelli are ambassadors of the programme and will serve as role models for all Yamaha‘s young talents.

With the upcoming season shaping up nicely, currently projected to count 21 GP rounds, Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Test Team rider Cal Crutchlow will be joining Quartararo and Morbidelli at the Official MotoGP Sepang Test, as Yamaha is putting all hands on deck to start their 2022 campaign off on the right foot.

TAKAHIRO SUMI

GM, MOTORSPORTS DEVELOPMENT DIV., YAMAHA MOTOR CO., LTD

First of all, I want to say ’Thank you for your support‘ to all Yamaha MotoGP fans around the world. In 2021, YMC‘s Motorsports Development Division worked closely together with the riders and teams to put in Yamaha‘s bid for the MotoGP World Title. It resulted in our first Premier Class Trophy since 2015, a great achievement! We dedicated the win to our loyal supporters. We are starting this new season with the mindset of a challenger and we want to make our fans proud of us again. We have an exciting rider line-up in Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli in the Factory Team and the vastly-experienced Andrea Dovizioso and new talent Darryn Binder in the WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP team, so we are confident that this year our fans will again have a lot of exciting racing to look forward to.

LIN JARVIS

MANAGING DIRECTOR, YAMAHA MOTOR RACING

Last year‘s title victory was the best way to give back something special to Monster Energy Company to express our thanks for their continuous support and faith in our team. This year, we are entering our tenth year with Monster Energy as our sponsor and our fourth season with them as our title sponsor. They are fully immersed in and dedicated to motorsports and our strong global alliance makes our brands instantly connected. The 2021 Title win with Monster Energy as title sponsor was the absolute highlight of our successful partnership so far. The same goes for our many other official team sponsors, partners, and suppliers. Their commitment and love for MotoGP makes it possible for us to keep competing at the top-tier of motorcycle racing for what will be the third MotoGP season during this ongoing global pandemic. Our goals this year are to challenge to win the Rider title again and to have both riders strong all year to try to win the Constructor and Team titles even if we know it will be tough in the face of very stiff competition from all the other factories. With Fabio and Franky steering our M1s supported by our top-class team and engineers in Japan & Europe we are excited to start testing to prepare for the 2022 MotoGP season.

MASSIMO MEREGALLI

TEAM DIRECTOR

Let me start by saying that we are, of course, very happy to have won the 2021 World Championship with Fabio last year. But being the reigning World Champion comes with a bit of added pressure. We are highly aware that winning a championship one time is relatively easy compared to trying to win it two times in a row. So, the heat is on! We are all starting from zero again, and we have a long season ahead of us with 21 GPs on the calendar. We can‘t afford to dwell too much on the past: we need to focus on the task ahead and move forward if we want to finish first again. The team‘s morale is great, and the atmosphere has never been better. The new crew members that joined us last year have gelled incredibly well with the other staff. As Team Director I couldn‘t ask for a better crew to start this next title quest with. We are also very lucky to have such a strong rider line-up. Both Fabio and Franco are undisputed talents, and their riding suits our bike too. One of them will be looking to confirm his dominance in the MotoGP field, while the other is eager to showcase his full potential now that he is getting closer to a full recovery from his injury, so we are ready to fight.

FABIO QUARTARARO

The winter break was quite long, but if I‘m honest I feel like I kept busy the whole time. There were many events for me to attend, and of course training continued as normal – so all in all it was quite busy, but in a good way. I‘m excited to begin the new season and start riding and improving. We got the title last year, and that‘s great. Nobody can ever take that away from me, but as of the first day of riding, none of that matters anymore. Last year‘s title win is behind us now, we must focus on this year‘s championship. Last year we barely did any pre-season testing due to the pandemic. This year I already have a year of experience with the Factory Team, so we know how to work well together. We know our strengths and where we can improve, so that will help during the tests in Sepang and Mandalika.

FRANCO MORBIDELLI

Last year was all about showing mental strength whilst working on improving my physical strength. It was not easy to come back after the surgery on my knee, but the work that I did last year will be beneficial for me at the start of this season. We already have some data to work with, and I‘m already familiar with the bike and the team. I have always had a good feeling on the Yamaha, but this M1 is so smooth. I can‘t wait to start riding the 2022 bike now that my knee is in a better condition. I‘m very interested to see how our progress will continue. I also look forward to seeing the whole team again at the tests. The atmosphere in the team was really nice last year, so let’s see what steps we can make during winter testing.

Italtrans Racing Team 2022 line-up presented

Commitment and passion are renewed: with the presentation of the new line-up the 2022 season of Italtrans Racing Team officially begins.

An adventure that has been going on for 13 years, making Italtrans Racing Team among the best teams of Moto2 class with its history and successes.

The Facebook and Instagram live broadcast, conducted by journalist Sandro Donato Grosso, unveiled the new bikes of Lorenzo Dalla Porta and Joe Roberts.

At his third season with Italtrans, the Tuscan rider is ready to show his talent, redeeming himself from an unlucky 2021. In fact, after a first growing part with several races in the points and in the top ten, Dalla Porta unfortunately stopped due to an injury to his left shoulder and underwent surgery. It was a tough decision, made in order to allow a long period of rehabilitation and get ready for the new 2022 season in the best shape.

After an up-and-down 2021, Roberts is preparing to race his second season with Italtrans Racing Team, aware of last year’s mistakes and ready to confirm his potential. With the experience gained, the rider from Malibu will continue his growth with the aim of confirming himself among the best Moto2 riders.

Next week the team will be on track at Valencia for two days of private testing and then at Portimao for official IRTA testing before the GP of Qatar.
 

Lorenzo Dalla Porta #19:

“The new livery is beautiful and eye-catching: a big step forward has been made with the graphics. We are all very motivated for this 2022: we will show our potential and satisfaction will come. I feel good: I’ve been working all winter long on my shoulder, with physiotherapy and specific training. I’m lacking a bit of strength but I’m continuing to work and I’ll arrive in Qatar ready. We’re motivated and ready to do well”.

Joe Roberts #16:

“I’m really excited for the new season. I feel motivated and I can’t wait to get on track for the first tests next week. It was great to be able to attend the presentation and see the team after the winter break. The motivation is high and the atmosphere good: I’m confident we can have a good season”.

Franco Brugnara, Lorenzo Dalla Porta’s Crew Chief:

“This will be an important season for Lorenzo. In the last two years he didn’t start in the best way, but he has had time to recover from his shoulder operation. We have made great efforts to have a higher technical level. I hope this will be the year of his confirmation”.

Giovanni Sandi, Joe Roberts’ Crew Chief:

“After a tough 2021 we took advantage of the break to work and we are ready for this new season with great motivation. There are several technical changes and we are determined to do well. Joe learnt important lessons from last year and he will show his full potential. The team is ready for a season full of expectations”.