This 2022 season has not yet started and it is already historic. To be convinced of this, just read his calendar where there are 21 appointments. And that's unheard of. The fact is established: the motorcycle world championship is facing its longest season ever. A development which inevitably causes debate among pilots.
21 Grands Prix, in a season is not nothing when you are a motorcycle driver. A category where you are injured more frequently than in motorsport while even without this consequence of a bad fall, the body is pushed to its extreme limits with its missiles approaching 300 hp, 157 kilos and can going at 360 km/h. A sign of the times, of his repeated physical problems which brought him into another phase of his brilliant career, Marc Marquez is not happy to see this inflation of Grands Prix: “ if we want to go to more countries in the future we will have to cancel some races », warns the eight-time World Champion.
« 21 races is a big number », Specifies the Spaniard. “ We can't continue like this “, he specifies. " You have to set a limit », Demands the six-time MotoGP champion, recalling that in many races, injuries can have a major impact on the progress of a championship in races scheduled over successive weekends. “ Sometimes we feel very exhausted » already admits Francesco Bagnaia, who reminds them: " we don't have much time to relax ».
MotoGP has never had a season with 21 Grands Prix
Andrea Dovizioso, who returns to MotoGP, also criticizes the growing calendar. “ I don't even want to think about it », he explains on Motorsport-total. The Italian understands the commercial aspect, but specifies that he has already found that 19 races it was “ beaucoup ". Dovi, by the way, would prefer to do more tests: “ if it was my decision, I would do three tests before the season and not just two » he said, thus going completely against the trend desired by the promoter Dorna.
The 2020 World Champion, Joan mir, on the other hand, does not see “ no problem » for drivers in a 21-race season. However, he is also aware that members of the MotoGP circus have “ less time at home with their families " Consequently. “ I don't know how many races we can do in a year » says the Suzuki official who wants to wait and see how the 2022 season goes because he has never done so many races in one year. The Spaniard definitely thinks that the development towards Formula 1 is “crazy”, a category which will have 23 races on the calendar in 2022. But MotoGP is no longer far from this figure either.
Maverick Vinales, for his part, believes that growth is good for MotoGP: “ it's always nice to come to new countries », declares the pilot Aprilia who cites the new Indonesian Grand Prix as a positive example. The fans are extremely enthusiastic about it. “ It's good for us and for the championship. I think MotoGP will grow as a result. This must be our goal ", explain Casa Particular in Viñales. We will see in what condition the pilots will be after 21 games but also, and perhaps above all, if this ambition can be met in a context of health crisis.
