Category: Superbikes

1. FALSE START FOR DI GIANNANTONIO IN SEPANG SHAKEDOWN

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 3rd Feb 2022

   Only 38 laps (best lap-time of 2’02.596s) for Fabio Di Giannantonio in the three-day test at Sepang for rookies and test riders. The Italian, whose progression was halted at the end of day one due to a gastroenteritis, was unable to return to the track and he is currently recovering ahead of the upcoming two-day test – again at the Sepang International Circuit – which will take place this Saturday and Sunday (February 5th and 6th).
   
   HIS CURRENT FITNESS CONDITION. Provided that the rider underwent through all protocols/medical checks needed (both rapid and PCR tests were negative), here is the diagnosis by Dr Michele Zasa, Clinica Mobile’s manager. “Fabio has a simple gastroenteritis, with the symptoms appearing at the end of the opening day of testing. This is something quite common when we travel to the Southeast of Asia, but still led to high dehydration that doesn’t allow him to ride safely. As a precautionary measure, he rested for two days and hopefully he will back to 100% of his physical condition for the upcoming two days of testing. He is recovering already, but it will be important to monitor the situation in the next hours.”
   
   THE TIME LOST. No need to highlight the importance of the test, especially for a rookie. Diggia’s track engineer Donatello Giovanotti had to basically redo the testing schedule for the rider #49. “The idea for these three days was to understand the bike, but especially the tyres. After a quite positive day – despite the small number of laps – in which we only used the medium-tyre option, the schedule also included a test with the other tyre option and a mini race simulation to understand the bike behaviour and all the electronic strategies. It will be difficult to recover the time lost in the next couple of test days at Sepang: we will try to make up for the time lost after day one, try the other tyre option and try a race situation, but obviously we won’t be able to concentrate on the electronics and setup.”

    

2. UNIBAT AND TEAM GRESINI MOTOGP TOGETHER IN 2022

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 28th Jan 2022

   A completely new project based on Fausto’s ideas, with a new partner like Ducati and two young Italian riders – in pure Gresini Racing’s style. This is – in few words – the project which can count on the support by UNIBAT, who is again Team Gresini’s official sponsor for 2022.
   
   UNIBAT, a leading company in the production and distribution of extremely high-quality batteries, has chosen the front fairings of the Ducati machines #23 and #49 as well as Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio’s leathers and the team uniforms.
   
   With the start of the season around the corner with the first official test in Malaysia, UNIBAT will make its debut on January 31st with Fabio Di Giannantonio’s Ducati in the rookie shakedown.
   
   ALESSANDRO ANNOSCIA, CEO SAMAUTO SpA -
   “It is quite an intense period for our company: 2022 will see the completion of the new factory for battery storage, which was made using the most innovative and green technologies. Overall, we will be available to customers with more than 12 thousand square meters of storage and with with a new logistic platform. The Unibat brand is all Italian, and the passion for the sport that links us to the MotoGP world is a historic one, so we must sponsor those who share our same values: Team Gresini. This team is entering a new chapter with a Ducati motorcycle, which is well-known to us, and we remember the many victories and huge emotions that they gave us through the years. We’re glad to be at heir side and we’ll root for the two youngster who grew up under Fausto’s wing: Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio. We are made of the same cloth: researching, trying hard, innovate until everything is perfect and above all… never give up! It’s a great challenge… and an all-Italian one! We’re officially proud to be Official Sponsor of Team Gresini Racing and… see you at the track!”
   
   CARLO MERLINI – GRESINI RACING MARKETING AND COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
   “Our relationship with Alessandro and Unibat is a reference point of our premier class project. This is a partnership that has been lasting for a few years now and the goal is to keep growing. Unibat presence on our Ducati machines is surely an excellent starting point upon which we’ll build our 2022.”

3. OLI STEPS UP TO MOTOGP

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 26th Jan 2022

   The Gresini Racing MotoGP project continues to grow and now can count on another ally joining its challenge in the premier class: OLI, from 2019 a partner of Gresini in the Moto2 and Moto3 categories, has decided to embrace the biggest project of the Faenza-based squad.
   
   Starting from 2022 OLI, for over 30 years a leading company specialised in toilette cassettes and shower-drainage systems, will be one of the official sponsors of Team Gresini Racing MotoGP and its brand will be visible on both Ducati machines #23 and #49 as well as on Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio’s leathers and on the team uniforms.
   
   This partnership between OLI and GR was born and developed quickly and all bodes well for a successful future.

   
   
   

4. 2022 STARTS NOW: HERE IS TEAM GRESINI RACING MOTOGP

   Posted on 12:00pm Saturday 15th Jan 2022

   Faenza (Italy), 15 January 2022. Team Gresini Racing MotoGP was presented via streaming worldwide today; the team, which was founded and ‘raised’ by Fausto Gresini, returns to the premier class of MotoGP as an independent team after seven years of absence in this role.
   
   This project is led by team owner Nadia Padovani Gresini and supported by Gresini Racing’s core; this season will witness the return with the family of Enea Bastianini, who already stepped on the podium last year with Ducati, as he joins fellow Italian and MotoGP rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio.
   
   Both riders will race aboard the Ducati Desmosedici GP21 in 2022, a bike they were able to get a glimpse of last November at Jerez de la Frontera. Bastianini has already proved he can be extremely competitive with his new bike, while Di Giannantonio has shown great signs for the upcoming debut season.
   
   The rider #49 will be the first to take to the track in Sepang’s first test, which is reserved exclusively to the MotoGP rookies. On-track action will get underway on January 31st with a three-day ‘shakedown’ where the light blue-liveried team will be already among the protagonists.

   ENEA BASTIANINI #23
   "The new colours of the bike are very particular, when I saw it first it appears a little strange to me, but now that I see it live I can say it is amazing. Such a great bike can’t be but fast! In about twenty days we’ll be leaving for the tests, luckily it is just a short time because I’m way too excited to be back on my Ducati. I already met the team during the first test: we had the chance to know each other better and to work together, and I can firmly say that I have a super team. I think it is going to be a very interesting season, I’m sure we’ll achieve great results. I can’t wait for the season to begin!"
   
   FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49
   "2022 is just around the corner. It will be my first season in MotoGP and it will be so cool! I will have a lot to learn, my expectation is to grow race by race and who knows, we’ll may be able to collect even some great achievements. In a bit we’ll be back on track for the test, we’re going in Malaysia and Indonesia is following. I can’t wait to ride again this beautiful beast. The winter break is always too long, I’m counting the days, the hours! And the bike is spectacular, maybe the most beautiful I’ve ever ride, the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. With that unique main color it looks like a bike of the 70’s, retrò style, on track we’ll be recognizable for sure. Particular, original, BEAUTIFUL. A unique emotion".
   
   NADIA PADOVANI GRESINI
   “We’re finally presenting a project we strongly believed in and one we have been working non-stop for during the last year. We’re very motivated and we ended up being the first MotoGP team to present itself; plus, I believe our bikes are beautiful – and I hope all the others will like them, too. I would like to think Fausto is looking at us from above and that is proud of his family. There is almost no distinction between natural and work families, we’re one. I must say that I saw both Diggia and Enea in great shape and eager to start: we’re aiming at being among the protagonists and show up at the parc fermé sometimes.”

   #CiaoFausto❤️
   

    

5. What to Expect From the 2022 MotoGP Season

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 29th Dec 2021

   The 2021 MotoGP season only came to a close in mid-November, after the Valencia Grand Prix. The race was won by Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia, four spots ahead of title winner Fabio Quartararo.  

   But while the dust has just about settled on 2021, teams, riders, and fans are all gearing up for the 2022 season.  

   Bikes have already hit the track, with a test session taking place at Jerez on 18th November. More testing is scheduled for the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia and the Mandalika International Street Circuit in Indonesia in early February, less than a month before the start of the season.  

   So with just a matter of weeks to go before the lights go out, here are some of the things to look for in 2022.  

   2022 MotoGP Favourites 

   Betting on MotoGP has grown in popularity in recent years, with most major bookmakers now offering odds on individual Grands Prix and the championship as a whole. This is also helped by the growing number of free bet promotions that are offered by these bookies, allowing bettors to get more value from the wagers that they place.  

   Few bookies have released their odds for the 2022 season yet, but it’s still possible to make some predictions about the upcoming season.  

   In recent years, Marc Márquez has been a dominant force in the sport. The Spanish rider will turn 29 just before the start of the new season, in which he hopes he will make a triumphant return. The Honda rider missed much of 2020 and several races in 2021 due to an arm injury. If he can put that behind him, expect him to be back at the front of the pack.  

   Fellow Spaniard and 2020 title winner Joan Mir is also likely to be a strong contender, as is reigning champion Fabio Quartararo.  

   The 2022 season is likely to be a close battle, which should make it exciting from start to finish.  

   No Rossi 

   This year will be the first time this century that the MotoGP paddock will not feature the legendary Italian rider, Valentino Rossi. The Yamaha rider finally hung up his gloves at the end of the 2021 Valencia Grand Prix, finishing just 18th in the championship - a far cry from the impressive seven world titles he won between 2001 and 2009.  

   After finishing the season in third place in 2018, Rossi has ended each of the following three in 7th, 15th, and 18th respectively. While he hasn’t been at the front, battling for wins anywhere near as much as earlier in his career, the Italian will still leave a large hole in the paddock for 2022.   

   Although he won’t be riding, Rossi won’t be going too far as the Italian will be running his own team known Racing Team VR46 in 2022.  

   A Changed Calendar 

   After a turbulent few years in which global sports like MotoGP had to adapt and change its scheduling to pack in as much racing as possible, the 2022 calendar is expected to be more of a return to normality.  

   The Argentinian, Malaysian, Thai, Japanese, Australian, and Finnish Grands Prix are all set to return. This does, however, mean that the doubleheaders in Qatar, Portugal, San Marino, and Austria have been dropped.  

   The Indonesian Grand Prix’s return after 24 years will take place on the newly-built Mandalika International Street Circuit. Meanwhile, the KymiRing, another new track, will become the new home of the Finnish Grand Prix, after a 39-year absence.  

   Lineup Changes 

   As happens each year, there will be new rider and team combinations for 2022. One of the most notable, aside from Rossi’s absence, will be the return of Aprilia as a full factory team for the first time since 2004.  

   Esponsorama Racing will be replaced by Rossi’s Racing Team VR46, Gresini Racing returns as a fully independent outfit, and RNG MotoGP Racing will take the place of Petronas SRT.  

   Meanwhile last year’s Moto2 champion and runner-up, Remy Gardner and Raúl Fernández, will be moving up into MotoGP, riding for Tech3 KTM. Other new faces on the grid include Enea Bastianini, Fabio Di Giannantonio, and Marco Bezzecchi.  

   With so many new faces, teams, and tracks the 2022 MotoGP season is shaping up to be an exciting one.  

    

    

    

   article supplied