Petronas SRT reborn as 'RNF MotoGP Racing' for 2022

Following the withdraw of title sponsor Petronas and separation from the Sepang Circuit, Sepang Racing Team (SRT) will be reborn as a new entity called 'RNF MotoGP Racing' for the 2022 season.

At Misano on Friday, Dorna officially confirmed the 'new' satellite (Yamaha) team - again run by current SRT principal Razlan Razali - will have MotoGP grid places from 2022-2026.

"It has been a whirlwind journey for us," Razali said. "In recent months, we have put all our efforts to reset, rebrand and relaunch as a fresh and stronger MotoGP team.

"I would like to thank Carmelo [Ezpeleta] for his continued trust and confidence in me to begin this second chapter with a newly rebuilt team competing in MotoGP’s premier class for the next five years.

"For the season ahead, under the new entity of RNF MotoGP Racing, the rebranded team will continue our blueprint that have proven success before. Expectations will be high and we will push hard to meet these aspirations.

"Equipped with the experience we gained and having achieved multiple highlights in the past, we look forward to the 2022 season as an even stronger team entry."

While an agreement between RNF and Yamaha is yet to be officially announced, Yamaha confirmed yesterday that Andrea Dovizioso will race at Petronas for the remainder of this season and then stay at the 'new' team for a full campaign, on a factory-spec Yamaha, in 2022.

Dovizioso is replacing Franco Morbidelli, who has been promoted to the Monster Yamaha team to fill the void left by Maverick Vinales' mid-season exit. 

RNF's second rider is still to be confirmed, but Darryn Binder appears favourite over SRT colleague Jake Dixon to take over from the retiring Valentino Rossi, meaning the South African would jump straight from Moto3 to MotoGP.

After seven podiums with rookie star Fabio Quartararo during its debut 2019 MotoGP campaign, Petronas Yamaha SRT hit new heights with six races wins and a title challenge by Quartararo and Morbidelli in 2020.

Quartararo then swapped places with Rossi at the factory Yamaha team, while Morbidelli remained on an aging 2019-based A-Spec bike.

The outcome has been one podium for Morbidelli, returning to action this weekend after being sidelined since June by knee surgery, and a best of just eighth place for Rossi.

The SRT Moto2 and Moto3 teams will be disbanded at the end of this season, although some staff and equipment could move to Michael Laverty's new Moto3 team.