Is the 2022 WorldSBK season over before it began for Isaac Vinales?

Financial concerns regarding the new Motoxracing Yamaha Team have led to speculation that Isaac Vinales will not take part in the 2022 WorldSBK campaign.
Isaac Vinales, Argentina WorldSBK, 15 October 2021
Isaac Vinales, Argentina WorldSBK, 15 October 2021
© Gold and Goose

Isaac Vinales an🅘d Motoxracing were a surprise addition to the 2022 WorldSBK grid, after the team had never competed in the premier class before. 

And while a new team joining the top flight of world championship racing is nothing new, Motoxracing and Vi🥀nales have not been present at any of the🌜 five pre-season tests so far. 

Again, that’s not a total shock as most tests that have already taken place were privately-run events by full factory teams, meaning those who are considered towards the bottom end of the financial spectrum have🦄 been missing. 

However, a big worry for Vinales and Motoxracing i🌞s the fact he’s missing from today’s opening day of WorldSBK testing at Barcelona, one of two crucial pre-season tests before the 2022 season gets underway at MotorLand Aragon on April 8-10. 

In fact, Hafizh Syahrin and Leandro Mercado (MIE Honda 🍷Racing), Loris Cresson (Pedercini Kawasaki) and Oliver Konig (Orelac Verdnatura) are all making their first pre-season appearances, again highlighting the importance of the two-day Barcelonaꦛ test. 

It instead turns out that Vinales🐭 is seeking 𝄹options elsewhere. 

What those ‘options’ look like is still unclear, however, if Vinales and Motoxracing do not take part in the 2022 season - considered very u🎉nlikely due to financial reasons - then the cousin of MotoGP rider Maverick Vinales will not be competing in WorldSBK, that much is known. 

In terms of on-track action at the two-day Barcelona WorldSBK test, GRT Yamaha rider Garrett Gerloff has looked in tremendous form yet agai🍰n. 

The American topped the morning session by just over a tenth fromꦦ current world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, while Aruba.it Ducati rider Alvaro Bautista was third quickest. A full rep🎀ort will follow at the end of today’s running.

Read More