ROUND 14 / SEPTEMBER 17-19, 2021
MISANO WORLD CIRCUIT MARCO SIMONCELLI / RIMINI, SAN MARINO
P68
MOTOGP I FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
YAMAHA COMING
TO MOTO2
Having witnessed the success of KTM's
youth setup in the MotoGP paddock,
it appears Yamaha will grow its pres-
ence into the Moto2 category in 2022
in a bid to find and foster new talents
before they are ready to move up to the
premier class. Yamaha spent months
pursuing Moto2 title contender Raul
Fernandez this year only to be frustrated
by KTM's insistence on the Spaniard
staying in orange. When it became
clear their pursuit of Fernandez would
be unsuccessful, Yamaha planned on
creating a similar presence in Moto2,
as KTM has in the junior categories
with Aki Ajo's team. It is believed the
Yamaha Mastercamp team that runs in
the European Moto2 Championship will
move to the world stage next year, with
Valentino Rossi's right-hand man Uccio
Salucci running the setup, alongside
Pablo Nieto, current team boss of the
Sky Racing VR46 Moto2 team.
MORBIDELLI BACK
Franco Morbidelli made his first ap-
pearance at a MotoGP race since June
after sitting out five races due to a com-
plex knee injury that required surgery.
Since then, the Italian was promoted to
Yamaha's factory team until the end of
the year and has signed a deal to stay
there until the end of 2023. The laid-
back Italian slots into the side of the ga-
rage vacated by Maverick Vinales, and
is working with the Catalan's former
team members, including crew chief
Silvano Galbusera (Andrea Dovizioso is
working alongside Morbidelli's former
crew chief Ramon Forcada).
DOVIZIOSO'S BACK
Upon making his first MotoGP start
since November last year, Andrea
Dovizioso insisted he was lucky to
Briefly...
Johann Zarco held on for 12th place.
(Below) Two in a row for Bagnaia but Quartararo (left)
still has the advantage in the title race.
