Fabio Quartararo from Team France
With world events affecting the 2020 MotoGP calendar, the FIM has announced the nations’s first MotoGP. Modeled on the successful Motocross of Nations, which has been taking place since 1947, the MotoGP of Nations will include national teams of three riders who will occupy places on a MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 machine. Eight countries will field teams – Australia, France, Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, South Africa and Spain.
The MotoGP of Nations will follow the same format as the Motocross of Nations. There will be three threesomes with different class combinations in each 20 lap race. In the first race of the day, the Moto2 and Moto3 competitors compete against each other. Next, Moto 3 and MotoGP racers take to the track together. In the last race of the day, Moto2 and Moto 3 will compete against each other. To avoid conflicts, the lower class starts at the top of the grid with a delay of 10 seconds before the higher class starts.
Danilo Petrucci and Andrea Dovizioso from Team Italy
With one driver per class, the various national associations had to endeavor to put the right driver on the right machine. With runner-ups in the last three MotoGP seasons, Andrea Dovizioso rides in the MotoGP class for Team Italy. Danilo Petrucci was selected to compete in the Moto2 class as he was the second best Italian finisher in the 2019 MotoGP series. Valentino Rossi, the 1997 125cc world champion, will return to the lightweight class on a Yamaha YZ250F-based Moto3 machine. Rossi took the ride and said, “At my age it’s amazing that someone pays me to drive a motorcycle.”
Team Spain will be a pure Marquez affair. Reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Márquez will ride his MotoGP bike while his brother Alex is on the Moto2 bike he took to the 2019 Moto2 World Championship. The wild card in the team will be Marc and Alex’s younger sister, Caracol Márquez. Marc, who is just 13 years old, says: “Caracol is already faster than Alex or me on her Honda CRF150R!” When they go to the family’s motocross track for training. She also regularly beats them on bird scooters on the streets of Cervera. While Caracol has no GP track experience, her brothers are confident that their speed will more than make up for this shortcoming.
Marc and Alex Marquez from Team Spain
Another surprise is Casey Stoner’s appointment to drive the MotoGP class for Team Australia. Stoner, who retired after the 2012 season, said: “I’m still faster than any other Australian and Marquez needs to be put in his place.” Jack Miller is returning to the Moto3 class, where he is almost a championship would have won. Remy Gardner will stay in Moto2 as it is a poor choice among Australian GP racers.
Team France is led by Fabio Quartararo on the MotoGP motorcycle. Mike De Meglio and Randy De Puniet from MotoE join Quartararo. Whether De Meglio or De Puniet remember how to drive a motorcycle with ICE drive remains open. In addition, it will be a challenge for them to complete a race of up to 20 laps without taking a few hours to recharge the battery.
The combination of Takaaki Nakagami, Tetsuta Nagashima and Ryusei Yamanaka turns out to be haiku, so the grouping was a matter of course for Team Japan. All three riders are active in the MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 classes, so the team will have an advantage, although Simon Crafar will be hopelessly speechless when interviewed after a podium finish.
Cal Crutchlow will anchor Team Great Britain, with Alex Lowes and Sam Lowes racing in the lower classes. “Alex and Sam were able to sponsor Lowe’s,” remarked Crutchlow, “so your money is welcome on the team. We use it for repairs on our bikes after accidents, and Lowe has tons of tools. “
Like Team Spain, Team South Africa will be a family affair. Alongside Brad and Darryn Binder at the MotoGP of Nations, their rebellious young brother will be Winder. True to its form, he insists that the “i” in his first and last name be pronounced as a long i. While Darryn’s nickname is Dive Bomber, Winder is Passing Wind as it is known for its quick overtaking maneuvers.
Team Germany has Stefan Bradl in the MotoGP class, as he is a test driver for the Repsol Honda Team. Marcel Schrötter will be racing in Moto2, as he has apparently always done. Dick Geiger will be in the Moto3 seat and Bradl notes, “I’ve never heard of him, but it doesn’t matter. We’re not going to win anyway. “
The first MotoGP of Nations will take place on the Wuhan Street Circuit in the Wuhan Sports Center in China. The track was previously the venue for the Chinese Touring Car Championship. A date for April Fool’s joke has not yet been set.
First MotoGP of Nations team line-ups
Australia
- MotoGP: Casey Stoner
- Moto2: Remy Gardner
- Moto3: Jack Miller
France
- MotoGP: Fabio Quartararo
- Moto2: Mike Di Meglio
- Moto3: Randy De Puniet
Germany
- MotoGP: Stefan Bradl
- Moto2: Marcel Schrötter
- Moto3: Dick Geiger
Great Britain
- MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow
- Moto2: Alex Lowes
- Moto3: Sam Lowes
Italy
- MotoGP: Andrea Dovizioso
- Moto2: Danilo Petrucci
- Moto3: Valentino Rossi
Team Japan
- MotoGP: Takaaki Nakagami
- Moto2: Tetsuta Nagashima
- Moto3: Ryusei Yamanaka
Team Spain
- MotoGP: Marc Marquez
- Moto2: Alex Marquez
- Moto3: Caracol Marquez
Team South Africa
- MotoGP: Brad Binder
- Moto2: Darryn Binder
- Moto3: wrap tie