Is Yamaha trialling Garrett Gerloff for a 2022 MotoGP seat with Assen call-up?

The American flag will this weekend fly above the MotoGP pit garage for the first time in five years after Yamaha confirmed Garrett Gerloff will race as substitute for the injured Franco Morbidelli in the Dutch TT at Assen.

The latest highlight in Gerloff’s fast-advancing journey as one of motorcycling’s more unexpected breakout stars, his Petronas SRT selection has inevitably raised speculation this could be a prelude towards something more permanent.

But what will it take for Gerloff to impress in admittedly difficult circumstances this weekend… and could we really see him line up on the grid in 2022?

If you follow WorldSBK then you’ll know Gerloff’s rise from relative unknown to consistent front runner has been as unexpected as it is impressive.

Cutting his teeth on the American domestic Superbike series in MotoAmerica, though the series - formerly known as AMA - has bred an impressive roll-call of riders over the decades,, it has been some years since a WorldSBK team has scouted stateside. Even then, the international call falls on several deaf ears because ‘local’ pay packets are as lucrative as the world championship equivalent.

While Yamaha has tried several times to entice its multiple title-winning star Cameron Beaubier to WorldSBK, his reluctance prior to a switch to Moto2 instead diverted attention to Gerloff, who joined the semi-works GRT squad for a 2020 WorldSBK debut.

A solid start to life in WorldSBK transformed almost overnight with a breakthrough podium in Barcelona announcing his arrival and continued dwelling among the echelons of the series.

Still with GRT for 2021, Gerloff’s form has taken another notable step forward this year - in part thanks to Yamaha supplying him with an on-spec 2021 R1 - while he is easily out-pacing rookie factory rider Andrea Locatelli.

Using Valentino Rossi as the benchmark

While Toprak Razgatlioglu would normally be Yamaha’s first approach for a MotoGP shot, both he and manager/mentor Kenan Sofuoglu have made it clear the Turk’s primary focus is WorldSBK rather than momentum checking MotoGP wild-cards.

Nonetheless, Gerloff makes a very interesting fall back option and while this weekend’s call up will signal his MotoGP race debut, this is his second appearance in the paddock having participated in a (wet) FP1 session in Valencia last year in place of a COVID-weary Valentino Rossi.

Having acquitted himself well on that occasion, Gerloff nonetheless faces a substantially different challenge this weekend on what will be the Petronas SRT-prepared Yamaha M1 this time.

Save for that Valencia outing, Gerloff has barely any mileage on a full fat M1, while Assen - though certainly an iconic stop for both MotoGP and WorldSBK - will be new for him… and few circuits will make a MotoGP motorcycle feel quicker than the tight sweeps of the Dutch venue.

He has an ideal benchmark in team-mate Valentino Rossi to measure himself against, though given Morbidelli has been struggling to wring the final hundredths available from the ageing 2019-origin M1, it will be some effort for Gerloff to get too far from the back of the grid. 

Even so, there won’t be many on-track expectations for Gerloff, who is likely to be graded more on the progress he makes over the three days, his error quota and the quality of his technical feedback. 

Indeed, the ‘error quota’ will be a particular focus for Gerloff following more than one high-profile collision involving rivals in WorldSBK this year, so it’s plausible to imagine him being read the riot act ahead of the weekend. 

Why Garrett Gerloff is in with a good chance of a 2022 MotoGP ride

This call up comes at a very interesting time for Gerloff and Yamaha as attentions increasingly turn towards 2022.

Officially speaking, Yamaha’s four-strong rider line-up is only one shy of a set, with Rossi taking his time to ponder whether 2021 proves to be his final season in MotoGP, or whether he will continue with Petronas SRT… or ride for his own VR46 Ducati squad.

Rumours and rhetoric from Petronas SRT would suggest Rossi is on his way out of Yamaha, leaving at least one seat to fill. However, with Maverick Vinales - fresh from finishing at the back of the German MotoGP in a new nadir for what has been a prolonged run of bad form - making his dissatisfaction at Yamaha clear recently, there is the possibility he won’t see out the second-half of his current contract.

If Vinales does go, Morbidelli will almost certainly partner Fabio Quartararo in the Factory set-up. If Vinales doesn’t leave - thus consigning Morbidelli to Petronas SRT - Rossi’s replacement is likely to come down to whether Petronas SRT or Yamaha get final say on who gets it.

Should PSRT win out, Xavi Vierge is tipped for the ride but Gerloff could go a long way to changing some important opinions this weekend if he doesn’t disgrace himself.

His American nationality certainly won’t hurt his cause - particularly in the eyes of Dorna - given it is now seven years since the United States had a full-time rider - Nicky Hayden - on the MotoGP grid.

Ten years on from Ben Spies winning his first (and only) MotoGP race at Assen - the last American to do so - it’s fair to say, Gerloff’s MotoGP debut will be watched with a keener interest than most before him this weekend...