For the 2022 MotoGP season, Fabio Quartararo will have to mount a title defense along with his teammate Franco Morbidelli, on Yamaha YZF-M1s. While the other racers are gearing up to take them down, Monster Energy Yamaha wants to make it clear that their racers are going into the competition ready to win and in style.
The new Monster Energy Yamaha liveries for the 2022 MotoGP season have been unveiled, setting up the duo for the upcoming season and title defense.
Quartararo won the 2021 MotoGP season with nine podium finishes, four of which were victories that asserted his lead and netted him the victory in the world championship. On top of this monumental achievement, the Frenchman also secured the BMW M Award. Quartararo is off to a great start with the Monster Energy Yamaha team, and the 2022 season will mark only his second season with the squad.
Quartararo stated that he “kept busy the whole time [throughout the winter break]. There were many events[...] and of course, training continued as normal.” Quartararo further states that last year’s title win is behind the team now, but it’s an achievement that can never be taken away. Now equipped with the experience with the Yamaha factory team, however, “[they] know [their] strengths and weaknesses and where [they] can improve, so that will help during the test in Sepang and Mandalika.”
Meanwhile, Morbidelli was unfortunately not in the best shape to compete in 2021. A knee injury cut his run short while he was with Yamaha’s satellite team. He eventually returned and raced in the San Marino GP, but the Italian was still recovering at the time. However, much progress has been made since then, and 2022 will be the year that Morbidelli returns in full form now that he is close to a 100 percent fitness level.
Morbidelli stated that “last year was all about showing mental strength whilst working on improving my physical strength. It was not easy to come back after the surgery[…] but the work that I did last year will be beneficial for me at the start of this season.” Morbidelli can’t wait to start riding the 2022 M1 now that his knee is in a better state, and it might look like a better year is ahead of the Italian racer with Monster Energy Yamaha.
The upcoming 2022 MotoGP season is looking good, and so are the two YZF-M1s. The liveries will be eye-catching on their own, but even more so out in front once the season is in full swing, which Monster Energy Yamaha is aiming for.
