Let’s take a look at the nine MotoGP riders preparing for a new adventure:
We take a look at nine of the premier class stars who will be moving on to new adventures in the upcoming season. For 2023, there have been many changes to the MotoGP grid. While some will keep their current status with the same manufacturer but a different team, others will try their luck in a completely new project and just one of them will be a rookie in 2023.
Bastianini from Gresini to Ducati Lenovo Team:
Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), showed great glimpses of his talent in his debut season in 2021 with two podiums and eleventh place overall. He confirmed this during the 2022 campaign. After a great victory at the Qatar round, the Italian rider scored six podiums, four of which were victories.
Despite four retirements, the Rimini rider was mathematically in the fight for the title until the last races. He went on to finish 3rd overall.
The ‘Beast’ proved that he had to be counted on for the future, and Ducati did just that. On August 26th, the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer announced the promotion of Bastianini to the Ducati Lenovo Team, alongside reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia who rides with No 1 on his bike this year (Ducati Lenovo Team).
From Suzuki to Honda: A change of scenery for Rins and Mir. Suzuki sent their fans into mourning in May when it announced its withdrawal from the World Championship. That unexpected move directly affected the future of Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) and Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team). Great news is that the two Spaniards will remain under the guidance of a Japanese factory, in this case Honda.
The 2020 MotoGP World Champion will share a box with Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda Team), while the rider who took two victories in 2022 will partner Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) in the satellite team. It will be kinda wierd to see them in different colours this season.
The GASGAS Duo: A Rookie and a Veteran
Impressive throughout the 2022 season, Augusto Fernández (Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing) was proclaimed Moto2 World Champion in Valencia at the last GP of the year. The Spaniard’s name had long been a strong contender for promotion to the premier class, until last September when he was officially announced as a member of GASGAS, a firm partnering with Tech3 to form a new MotoGP team.
He is the only rookie on the premier class grid in 2023, teaming up with Pol Espargaró (Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing). Pol returns to the Tech3 team, where he made his premier class debut in 2014. After two years with Honda with only two podiums and one pole position, the experienced ‘44’ will be the leader of the GASGAS project, which he hopes to put on the podium in 2023.
Oliveira and Raúl Fernández complete the new Aprilia puzzle:
The Malaysian RNF structure moves to compete on Aprilia in 2023, which now boasts a satellite MotoGP team for the first time in its history. For this new project, the Italian manufacturer has opted for two very different profiles with Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez.
The Portuguese rider is a safe bet, with four years of experience in MotoGP and five victories, two of them in 2022. Fourth in the Valencia Test, the ‘88’ demonstrated his impressive ability to adapt to the Aprilia and will undoubtedly be one of the men to watch this season, when he finally competes in front of a full home crowd at Portimao.
Raúl Fernández – a completely different situation. After a difficult rookie year in 2022, the Spaniard has managed to carve out a niche for himself in the top class of motorcycling, with the intention of demonstrating his true potential during the new season. To do this, the Spaniard will rely on the Malaysian structure, Aprilia and the experience of his team-mate, but will he show all the talent that made him runner-up in the Moto2 World Championship in 2021?
Jack Miller and Alex Márquez:
Enea Bastianini’s promotion to the factory Ducati team shook up the transfer market, to the delight of some and to the detriment of others. In this case, the change mainly affected Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Alex Márquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP), who took the place of the ‘Beast’.
The very likeable Australian leaves his seat in the red box after a total of seven podiums in 2022, culminating in a prestigious victory in Japan and a fifth place finish, his second best season in the elite class. With eight seasons under his belt in MotoGP, Miller will form an experienced and interesting line-up alongside our very own Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).
#73 Alex Marquez – has a one-year contract taking him through to the end of 2023 with Gresini Ducati.
The first important date of the year is the Sepang Test on 10 February.
What’s new for Moto2 in 2023?
New names, new numbers and new teams are shaking up the intermediate class ahead of the new campaign. A new year brings new beginnings, and this is true for the Moto class in 2023. The field is full of new teams, riders, and numbers, providing plenty of fresh excitement in the intermediate class.
Rookie Revelations:
The upcoming Moto2 season see’s the arrival of nine new riders, including reigning Moto3 World Champion, Izan Guevara, who stays with the GASGAS Aspar Team. Sergio Garcia, who was bested by his former teammate Guevara to the Moto title last season, joins the Flexbox HP40 team. Completing the trio of riders moving up is Dennis Foggia, who has signed with the Italtrans Racing team.
Our own Darryn Binder joins the Moto2 ranks with the Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP team. Returning to Moto2 is Lukas Tulovic, who comes back after competing in MotoE, and earning the title of FIM Moto2 European Champion in 2022. He will be sharing the garage with Binder at Intact GP.
Familiar names also join the grid full-time, such as Rory Skinner, who replaces outgoing Cameron Beaubier at American Racing. Kohta Nozane comes back to Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team while Alex Escrig will be racing for the MV Agusta Forwards Team and Borja Gomez will join Fantic Motor on a full-time basis after two substitute Moto2 appearances in 2022.
Seat Swappers:
A number of riders have also opted for a change of scenery in 2023. One of the bigger moves from the off season sees Albert Arenas swap GASGAS Aspar for the Red Bull KTM bike under the stewardship of Aki Ajo, where the 2020 Moto3 Champion will partner 2021 Moto3 winner and 2022 Moto2 Rookie of the Year Pedro Acosta.
Having ridden with Liqui Moly Intact GP during his rookie season, Jeremy Alcoba has returned to the more familiar surrounds at Gresini Racing for his sophomore year, while Lorenzo Dalla Porta switches Italtrans Racing for the Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team.
Celestino Vietti, one of the early season title favourites, will also ride under a new team moniker for 2023, as Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Racing Team in Moto2 becomes Fantic Motor in a new collaboration.
Lucky Numbers:
New names, new numbers and new teams are shaking up the intermediate class ahead of the new campaign. A new year brings new beginnings, and this is true for the Moto class in 2023. The field is full of new teams, riders, and numbers, providing plenty of fresh excitement in the intermediate class.
What’s new for Moto3 in 2023?
From returning record holders to exciting rookie riders, there is plenty to keep an eye on in the lightweight class ahead of the new season. The Moto3 class is known to produce rookie sensations, and this year could be no different. With a talented field of riders, it’s set to be an unforgettable season filled with nail-biting battles and potential new stars emerging in the lightweight class.
A host of talented young riders set to make their debut on the grid, as well as a number of notable changes and shifts within teams, this season promises to be pretty flippen cool!
Niccolo Farioli, who has shown impressive potential during his time in the Red Bull Rookies Cup joining the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team. David Salvador, who had to drop out from the 2022 season, will also be making his full-time debut, joining the CIP Green Power team.
Romano Fenati, who holds the record for most wins in the class, comes back to Moto3 after securing a ride with the Rivacold Snipers Team. Syarifuddin Azman, who finished fourth in the 2022 FIM JuniorGP World Championship, will be joining the MT Helmets – MSI team. Colombian rider David Alonso, who made one-off appearances in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, will be making his full-time debut in the Moto3™ class with the GASGAS Aspar Team.
Collin Veijer, the 2022 Red Bull Rookies Cup runner-up, has signed up with the Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP team while reigning Red Bull Rookies Cup Champion Jose Antonio Rueda will be one to watch this season as he joins Aki Ajo’s Red Bull KTM squad. These young talents bring a wealth of potential and promise to the Moto3 class, and it will be exciting to see how they fare against the more experienced riders on the grid.
As always, there were plenty of musical chairs happening during the winter break, as established names sought out a change of scenery. One of the bigger off-season switches sees Turkish rider Deniz Öncü move to Red Bull KTM Ajo after three years with the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team, while Dani Holgado moves in the opposite direction. Jaume Masia also leaves Aki Ajo’s team, opting for a return to Leopard Racing after two seasons away.
Ryusei Yamanaka will be hoping to fill the sizeable leathers of last year’s Champion Izan Guevara at GASGAS Aspar Team. Matteo Bertelle switches to Rivacold Snipers Team, while Lorenzo Fellon and Kaito Toba trade places at CIP Green Power and SIC58 Squadra Corse respectively. Joel Kelso also moves away from CIP Green Power after his rookie season, and the Australian will link up with Xavi Artigas at CFMoto Racing Pruestel.
Another notable change on the grid is title contender Ayumu Sasaki will now ride under Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP banner, a change from Max racing following the departure of Max Biaggi’s team from Moto3. These changes bring a new dynamic to the grid and it will make for an intriguing watch to see how these riders adapt to their new surroundings. The upcoming campaign is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling yet. With a host of talented riders looking to make their mark on the grid, the competition is sure to be fierce.
Jaume Masia’s return to Leopard Racing comes with the goal of claiming the title. Diogo Moreira, who made a huge impression in his rookie campaign, will be looking to build on his success and could make a run for the Championship. Tatsuki Suzuki will be aiming to make his experience count and establish himself as a top contender in the lightweight class.
Another rider to watch out for is David Muñoz, who will be making his full-season debut after shaking things up on track in 2022. Deniz Öncü will be hunting down a breakthrough victory in Aki Ajo’s team and lead a title fight. Romano Fenati hopes to rediscover his winning touch while last year’s fourth place finisher, Ayumu Sasaki, will be aiming to build on an encouraging year and challenge for Championship glory.
