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MotoGP has officially returned to Malaysia after an absence of two years. Today, in fact, the first day of "shakedown" was held with test riders and rookies who were out on the Sepang track. One rider that impressed us was Raul Fernandez who surprised everyone with a time of 2m00.898s, putting himself in first place ahead of Pirro's Ducati. Seventh position, on the other hand, for Darryn Binder, who was also under special observation after being catapulted into the top class from Moto3 after some not particularly positive years. The man responsible for this “jump” was most probably Razlan Razali, boss of the WithU Yamaha RNF team born from the ashes of Petronas.
“I think it was a positive day for Darryn - said Razali - we have developed a program that we are following for this test. Darryn is not pushing, he used medium tyres to find the right sensations on the bike. He had ridden in Sepang with Moto3 which is something completely different and much more challenging. Behind him there are a lot of great people and we are not putting any pressure or rushing him ”.
On the other side of the garage, from Saturday, there will be Andrea Dovizioso whom Razali would like to be in the top 6 at the end of the championship.
"Being in the top six is the goal we have set ourselves for Dovizioso. I think the five races last year are very important for him. Yes, he was an on older bike, but I think it’s better to be on an older bike than coming into the season with no racing at all. Besides, coming back to it after nearly a two-year break, he has basically understood how tough, how competitive the field is. So I think Andrea is experienced enough, smart enough to prepare himself over the winter season, to improve himself. In fact, he is a factory rider, in Yamaha’s books. And why I say that we want him to be in the top six – because a guy like Andrea, he doesn’t want to come into the championship, especially this year, being outside the top six, or outside the top 10.”
What are the other goals for the season?
"Winning the title of rookie of the year with Binder and the title of best independent team in MotoGP. We also know we will have to be lucky to get the results of 2019 and 2020 but we believe that anything is possible".
With Darryn Binder you bring a young rider to MotoGP, are there any other talents you are observing?
“Priority goes to young talented riders, that’s what we want to be, that’s our philosophy, to develop young riders. However, we also learned from our experience especially last year that there must be a balance between experience and young riders. So, it will be the strategy moving forward to make sure there’s a balance of young and experienced riders. And… young riders, if you look, even when we started this team, there are many young riders who want to join us. I think a lot of riders out there would love to be on a Yamaha package, of course, because they saw what Fabio has done, they saw the journey of Fabio, et cetera. And of course, they want to be on a Yamaha package”
So what are the ideas for 2023?
“Looking at ’23, it’s a bit too far because we don’t know how everybody is performing. But then again, you know, we still have Darryn – if Darryn does well, it’s only natural for us to retain him, and then that’s the plan.”
In recent weeks there has been a small controversy between Beirer and Tardozzi and, broadening the subject, between KTM and Ducati about the Red Bull Rookies Cup with the Borgo Panigale manufacturer believing it is an advantage for the Austrians to be able to sign new champions. What do you think about it?
“It is certainly an advantage for KTM to have the Rookies Cup because then they bring the riders to Moto3 and then to Moto2. In MotoGP, however, the number of places is still four and so someone must always be moved or sent away. I believe that the other manufacturers must work to develop their youth programs ”.
