The 2022 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup is go! Lusail International Circuit stages the two-day pre-season test on the 25th and 26th of February, with plenty of track time available for the class of 2022 to get acquainted – or reacquainted – with their machinery, the track and the Cup.
This year the grid is 20-strong, with seven countries represented: Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. And there will definitely be a new Champion and a new name on the top step, with some key players from last season – including Champion Taiyo Furusato – moving up on their Road to MotoGP™.
There are six experienced riders who’ll be looking to start their season on a high: Gun Mie, Carter Thompson, Thanakorn Lakharn and Rei Wakamatsu, as well as 2021 rookies Hakim Danish and Marianos Nikolis. Some, like Mie, are seasoned frontrunners – whereas others will be looking to make a key step forward. All, however, will be looking to prove themselves against the fresh faces who arrive this season.
With 14 rookies, it will be an interesting test to see who settles in the quickest and who progresses by the end of play on Saturday. Two of the new full time riders – Reykat Fadillah and Veda Pratama – have already done wildcards at Mandalika too, so they will be interesting to watch at a new track. The test is a vital opportunity for the new recruits to get a good look at Lusail before the lights go out in earnest, with the first two races at the venue putting 50 points up for grabs.
Stay up to date on social media for news from the test, and then check out the round up after action concludes on Saturday!
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