Razlan Razali has learned a lot since he competed in Grand Prix and in particular this: results are not everything. The Malaysian was in fact the first representative of his fellow brand Petronas, which he brought to MotoGP with a team equipped with two Yamahas. It was he who gave a chance to Fabio Quartararo who needs no introduction, he made Franco Morbidelli a vice-world champion in 2020, a season in which he brought more victories to the brand. Iwata as his official team. And then ? Petronas left and Yamaha didn't consider it any more. But Razali bounces back with this agreement which now makes him Aprilia's partner.
The term “partner” is important because Razlan Razali always wanted to be more than a paying customer at Yamaha . However, the Japanese did not take this message into consideration, which they would perhaps study differently today, having convinced themselves that their working method had to evolve towards more exchanges and European skills. But for Razali, it's too late. The Malaysian found in Aprilia the agreement he had been hoping for for a long time.
The boss, now supported by the Italian company WithU, says: “ MotoGP is serious business. The offer met our requirements for a long-term strategy. This affects all areas, financial, commercial and engine development. We are looking forward to taking on a new challenge ". A consideration than ever Yamaha did not grant him.
This new collaboration comes at a historic moment for the Noale brand in its RS-GP project. This bike is revealed this season, and under the colors of the factory, since it abandoned the status of a private team in 2022 with the team Gresini, a couple born with the manufacturer's adventure in MotoGP… And who separated because, during his lifetime, the late boss Fausto Gresini could not obtain the status that Razlan Razali seems to have acquired for the next two seasons, with an option to extend for two more years…
The framework being thus established, it now remains to know which motorcycles and which riders will constitute the contents of the box. For the machines, it is certain that it will be the RS-GP version 2022 which will make the last Grand Prix in Valencia. We cannot yet say what they will look like on this date, because the other Italian opus on the starting grid with that of Ducati is always in constant evolution: there are currently new developments. At Mugello, Aleix Espargaró et Maverick Vinales have rolled a new engine specification. In the fall, a new technical stage is to be triggered, which the test pilot Lorenzo Savadori led in his last wildcards. And at Assen the new fairing was used in racing for the first time. “ Our bike will be based on the latest version that will be used in the last race in Valencia »Says Razali on Motorsport-total. And he is convinced of it: “ it will be a solid package ».
Darryn Binder will undoubtedly be the forgotten one in this new adventure between Razlan Razali and Aprilia
As far as RNF pilots are concerned, everything is still open. Rumor has it that it could be Miguel Oliveira and that the Portuguese will be flanked by Raul Fernandez. Two alumni of KTM SO. To the great dismay of the one who was caught in Moto3 by Razlan Razali to be thrown into the MotoGP arena on the handlebars of an antique Yamaha, or Darryn binder. The rookie comments: “ riding an Aprilia would be great », declares the younger brother of Brad Binder. " Basically, of course, I would really like to stay in the MotoGP category » said the South African again. “ At the moment it is still too early to say anything ».
He finishes : " I can only try to continue to improve. I want to show my potential. The driver market is pretty crazy right now. No one really knows where he is right now. I can only wait and put it this way: as long as I can continue to ride motorcycles, I'm happy ». Darryn Binder, promoted directly from the Moto3 category this winter, scored two points for RNF-Yamaha in the first eleven races of the season. In the wet race at Mandalika he finished P10, recently in Barcelona in dry conditions P12. He is ahead of his teammate in the championship Andrea Dovizioso, former three-time world vice-champion, and he is ahead of the two Tech3 KTM riders who dominated Moto2 last year in the rookie rankings. Which isn't so bad after all.
