If you’re a patriotic British MotoGP fan, then we won’t blame you for perhaps finding it increasingly difficult to drum up some enthusiasm following a second season without the Union Jack flying high in the premier class paddock.
Nevertheless., while the British accent remains a fairly quiet one amid a chorus of Spanish and Italian entries across Moto2 and Moto3, the UK contingent swells from three to five in 2022 and some can safely count themselves as among the title favourites in both classes.
Moto2
A veritable veteran in Moto2 terms, Lowes resumes his latest bid to secure an elusive maiden intermediate class title eight years after making his debut in 2014.
Since then eight wins and 23 podiums have followed but the ultimate prize has remained out of reach. Not that he hasn’t come close recently, finishing third in 2020 and fourth in 2021, while he is the highest-placed rider from last season returning in 2022, giving him de facto title status.
After an injury late on in the 2020 season just as he’d taken the series lead scuppered his chance of going all the way, Lowes - in his third season with Marc VDS Racing - is aiming to pull everything together to make 2022 his own.
“The target last year was to fight for the World Championship and some things didn’t go our way. We gained a lot of experience and understand where we can be stronger in 2022.
“I need to be more consistent over the whole season because last year we started off strongly but lost some momentum before I came back strong at the end. Putting my best form together for a longer period is something I’m definitely concentrating on.
“My goal once again is to fight for the World Championship and when you ride for the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team that has to be something you strive for. It’s 2022, so let’s hope it’s the year of number 22!”
With two Brits lining up on the Moto2 grid once more this season, Jake Dixon gets a fourth opportunity to make his breakthrough following a frustrating three seasons blighted by indifferent machinery and niggling injuries.
However, after raising his profile with a solid MotoGP outing with Petronas SRT Yamaha last year,. Dixon comes full circle for 2022 after resuming ties with Aspar, which will mirror its Moto3 effort by running as GASGAS this year.
Encouragingly Dixon has been one of the standouts in pre-season testing, while the influence of a bigger budget courtesy of GASGAS (aka. KTM) could see Dixon emerge as something of a dark horse among a less experienced field.
Moto3
If Dixon is a veteran then John McPhee is the grand elder of Moto3, the Scottish rider having made the series his home since his debut way back in 2010 when it was the 125GP series. For reference, this was the same year a certain Marc Marquez also made his first international appearance…
In truth it is always notoriously hard to predict a favourite in the wild world of Moto3, but certainly McPhee outranks every opponent comfortably in terms of experience. If seasoned knowledge turns out to be the difference in 2022 then McPhee - on the Max Biaggi-helmed Sterligarda Husqvarna - is as among the favourites in 2022 as he was the past three seasons…
At the other end of the scale, completing the British quintet this year will be the VisionTrack Honda outfit, a team that could play a pivotal role in bolstering UK interest in the GP ranks in years to come.
The brainchild of Michael Laverty and his young rider academy, VisionTrack Honda is styled as the British ‘VR46 Racing’ with its aim of giving UK talents a chance to demonstrate their talents against other potential ‘stars of tomorrow’.
Scott Ogden and Joshua Whatley will lead the team’s inaugural challenge, with Taylor Mackenzie coming on as boss.
