As we get set to see the 2022 MotoGP™ season burst into life under the Lusail International Circuit lights, five rookies are waiting to embark on their maiden premier class voyage.

Those five rookies will be hoping they can repeat the feats that eventual Rookie of the Year Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) and Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) did in 2021 – establishing themselves amongst the elite by claiming podiums. Let’s have a look at new faces we’ll be seeing in MotoGP™ this season, starting with the reigning Moto2™ World Champion.

Son of former 500cc World Champion Wayne Gardner and 2021 intermediate class King, Remy Gardner started and finished last season in stellar fashion. In the first nine races, Gardner finished off the podium just once, notching up three victories in that time. This allowed the Australian to go into the summer break with a 31-point lead over rookie wonder teammate Raul Fernandez. In the second half of the season, he took four more podium finishes, including victories at Silverstone and Portimao before finally beating Fernandez to the Moto2™ title by four points after the season finale in Valencia.

Gardner’s pre-season has, unfortunately, been marred by a wrist injury, which has prevented us from seeing his full early potential. However, the Australian has quietly gone about his business and there’s no doubt that a fully fit Gardner will be frighteningly fast and one to watch in 2022.

The latest rapid Spaniard comes into MotoGP™ after an astonishing Moto2™ rookie campaign. In a fantastic head-to-head battle with teammate Gardner, KTM had little choice but to promote Fernandez into the Tech3 ranks alongside Gardner, as other factories showed more than a genuine interest in the number 25’s services.

2022, as expected, has seen Fernandez take to the premier class very well. A heavy crash on Day 2 was, from the outside, the only negative from a strong looking pre-season. Fernandez will be many people’s pick for the Rookie of the Year award after what he showed he was capable of in 2021, and with someone who is oozing confidence, Fernandez’s 2022 season could be a thriller. 

Three-time Moto2™ race winner Marco Bezzecchi ultimately saw a 2021 title charge slip away after Gardner and Fernandez produced such strong and unrelenting seasons. But the Italian enters the fray with plenty of promise and excitement surrounding him.

Seven podiums, including a win at the Styrian GP, and third overall was a cracking season for Bezzecchi last year, who lines up alongside sophomore and close friend Luca Marini in the new Mooney VR46 Racing Team ranks. In very familiar, comfortable surroundings, it feels like the perfect recipe for Bezzecchi to get his head down and have a strong first season in MotoGP™. Bezzecchi was the fastest rookie in Mandalika, finishing just 0.8s away from Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team).

Another one of Italy’s rising stars is Gresini Racing MotoGP™’s Fabio Di Giannantonio. The standout ride of his 2021 season was his victory in Jerez, with Diggia eventually finishing seventh overall in the standings after claiming three other podiums in Qatar, America and Valencia.

A bout of gastroenteritis saw Di Giannantonio, who will run the number 49 this year instead of his usual 21, miss the second and third day of the Shakedown Test. Two crucial days were lost on the bike for the fastest rookie at the Jerez Test, but ending the Mandalika Test as the second best rookie and 0.8s from the fastest pace was more than promising.

Darryn Binder grabbed the headlines when WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team confirmed the South African would be making the colossal jump from Moto3™ to the premier class. A lightweight class title charge went astray in 2021 for Binder as a rookie named Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took the world by storm, but Binder had a solid year. His height and weight caused him problems in Moto3™, and it’s fair to say that he’s had a good start to life as a MotoGP™ rider.

Having the experience of Andrea Dovizioso beside him in the box should be like gold dust for Binder, who was less than two seconds down on the quickest time in Mandalika. It will be a fascinating watch to see how Binder gets on.

Sunday evening at the Lusail International Circuit will be the biggest race of the MotoGP™ rookies’ lives, as their premier class adventures begin. Who are you backing to be the 2022 Rookie of the Year? Follow the battle live and OnDemand with VideoPass so you don’t miss any of the action.