MotoGP 2022, Razali: “We’ll announce our line-up after the races in Austria”

The Petronas team finished the 2020 season in the best possible way, championship runner-up Franco Morbidelli obviously in great shape aboard the Yamaha M1. But 2021 has failed to get off to a similar start, the situation clear to everyone. The Italo-Brazilian has struggled, his team-mate Valentino Rossi also failing to shine.

In a press release issued by the squad itself, team principal Razlan Razali analyses the first nine races: “We’ve had our highs and lows. It’s been hard in MotoGP, particularly after the good results of the first two years, and the fact that Franco Morbidelli finished as runner-up in 2020. The 2021 season hasn’t started as we expected”.

 A closer look at Morbidelli and Rossi

The 26-year old hasn’t been able to do well in every race: “Franco had problems with the bike during the first race, but then bounced back and scored a first podium at Jerez. Unfortunately he then had the knee problem, which required surgery. This hinders our aims for the rest of the season, but we hope he comes back strong”. As for the Doctor, he comments: “We saw good pace in qualifying at the start of the season and some improvement in recent races, but we know it’s been difficult. We’ll continue to support him as much as possible during the second half of the season”.

 The goals

Looking at 2021 as a whole, as well as the ten races that remain, the Malaysian confirms: “We will try to finish top five in every class. In MotoGP we aim to be inside the top three in the independent team category, but we know it will be difficult to make up ground in the second half of the season. In Moto2 and Moto3 we need our riders to be consistent. We have the potential to significantly improve our results”.

 Morbidelli’s physical condition

On 25 June, Morbidelli was in surgery and Razali provides an update as to his condition: “Franco is recovering well. We want to be sure he’s 100% before he returns, so we don’t think he’ll race before Misano. He loves that track and knows it well, so that could be a good opportunity for him to return”.

 Who are the 2022 riders?

As for the riders market opening up in light of Vinales’ departure, Razali states: “We’re still awaiting the decision of Valentino Rossi and Yamaha with regard to 2022. In any case, the latest developments definitely open up many possibilities! We’re talking with Yamaha and our current MotoGP riders, but we’re in no hurry. We don’t plan to make any announcements for at least another couple of races”.

Translated by Heather Watson

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