The talk is finally on track after months of waiting. The world championships are almost upon us and the first pre-event press conference of 2022 took place at the Grand Prix of Qatar. 

Under the lights at the Losail International Circuit, the reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) will have a huge challenge in front of him by Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing).

With veteran Valentino Rossi’s retirement, the 2022 MotoGP season is expected to be the "toughest-ever" in terms of World Championship battles, as top contenders aim for a perfect start at the Grand Prix of Qatar on Sunday.

The 22 Honda and @marcmarquez93 ?

A combo that has many worried ?#QatarGP ?? pic.twitter.com/WsGbLZUqOu

— MotoGP™? (@MotoGP) March 4, 2022

As season-opening news, Repsol Honda Team's Marc Marquez will return to compete this year in search of matching Rossi's seven MotoGP titles.

The top riders acknowledged during the pre-event press conference that they will be up against very fast riders during the 21-race season.

Defending champion Quadtararo, who topped Bagnaia by 26 points, said there is more competitiveness than ever.

“It’s so difficult. Last year you could say five or six riders but now I could say anyone. Of course the guys that are here today, but it’s difficult to say a few. We will need to wait a little bit more to see the clear opponents,” said Quartararo, Yamaha’s star.

“I remember maybe 10 years ago we had a few riders and then the rest, but now basically everything is so tight and the level of riders is really high. Now I think it’s the closest ever and it will be fun,” he added.

In the press conference, Marquez sat confidently behind Quartararo, making a return after suffering from injuries and double vision in the previous two seasons. Despite this, the Spaniard showcased glimpses of his brilliance during the Sepang and Mandalika tests.

“After what we have overcome recently my motivation to start the season is huge, we have come through something difficult and now it’s time to enjoy, but not just enjoying riding, enjoying competing and enjoying fighting at the front again,” said Marquez.

Marquez says he will use his experience to contend for the championship. He last raced in Qatar in 2019 and claimed the title just once, in 2014, ahead of Rossi and teammate Dani Pedrosa. 

“This is my tenth year in the MotoGP class and now I am one of the most experienced in the class. There are many new competitors but the goal is still the same: to fight for the World Championship,” said Marquez.

"We arrive with a new bike, so we need to see how it behaves in Qatar, but we have built a good base and I am looking forward to the weekend and to racing again,” he added.

Ahead of the season opener, Bagnaia reiterated his confidence in the bike.   

“We have prepared the bike to race well in Qatar. Our pace and consistency was OK,” he commented before saying that a tight competition is beneficial for the sport.

“It’s something good for the show, but I think years ago, the way of working was different. Now you have to do the time attack. I was feeling years ago, I was doing the time attack my first year in MotoGP and with the lap time I did in 2020 I was fifth, and this year like 17th; a big difference,” he added. 

In anticipation of a successful start to the season, Mir is pleased with the improvements he has made to his bike.   

“I’m happy about how everything is going. I felt an improvement on the bike and it looks like we have a little more top speed and that’s always really important. The winter was good and I trained well and got some rest as well to have the batteries fully charged for the first races,” he said.

“During the test on the last day it looked like a qualifying but it means that there’s a lot of competitiveness between the manufacturers and riders and everything, for the show it’s amazing,” he added. 

Viñales, the Aprilia rider who won the Qatar Grand Prix for the second time last year, said his team has to take one step at a time.

“I think we have to remain calm. To win a race in MotoGP you need to put a lot of points together, and I still don’t think we are ready but sometimes MotoGP is crazy and you can do it, however, we need to keep working, improve some points of the bike and improve some points of my riding style,” he said. 

“Whatever the result is here in Qatar we will improve step-by-step. I’m not ready with this bike but we have a lot of potential,” he added. 

One of the most unique projects I have ever art directed. Thank you @QMMF_official and @losailcircuit for the opportunity! #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/S2svMxGj8P

— Krystian Gierycz (@cgierycz) March 4, 2022

There is just a few hours left until the sound of Grand Prix motorcycles roars from the pitlane. It is just the start of 2022, and what a season it's going to be. The riders seem to indicate just how competitive and exciting this race will be.

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Sources: Peninsula; MotoGP

Image credit: MotoGP