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Jake Dixon has been confirmed as making his MotoGP debut at next weekend’s British Grand Prix, stepping up to the premier class with the Petronas Yamaha team for his home race.
The story, first reported by The Race during last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, was confirmed alongside the news that Cal Crutchlow will, as expected, step up to the factory Monster Energy Yamaha team to replace Maverick Vinales, whose immediate departure from the team was confirmed this morning as well.
Crutchlow completed the previous two rounds of the series at the Red Bull Ring for the Petronas Yamaha team, deputising for the injured Franco Morbidelli as last year’s championship runner-up continues to recover from extensive knee surgery.
Dixon, who already rides for the Malaysian squad in Moto2 and whose name had been repeatedly linked to a move to its MotoGP effort for 2022, will get something of a baptism of fire at his home race, with no opportunity to test the Yamaha M1 beforehand – but has extensive experience of the Silverstone track on a big bike thanks to his time in the British Superbike paddock, where he was a podium finisher.
The opportunity for him to ride the MotoGP bike was originally pitched as something of a job interview for next season as the team moved to fill both seats following the retirement of Valentino Rossi and the move of Morbidelli to the factory team as Vinales’ full-time replacement.
However, with extensive behind-the-scenes changes going on at the team following the withdrawal of their title sponsor Petronas and a management buyout of the outfit, it seems like the demands of securing new sponsors has moved Dixon’s name off the top of the list to join expected signing Darryn Binder.
Speaking as the news was announced, team principal Razlan Razali hinted at that too, suggesting that the opportunity to replace Morbidelli was more a reward than a chance to audition for a full-time job.
“This is a unique opportunity for Jake to show what he can do and explore his potential on a Yamaha YZR-M1. We are not setting any particular targets regarding results; it is an opportunity for experience at his home GP, while Franco continues his recovery.
“This is a one-off opportunity, and we wanted one of our family of riders to have this chance aboard the MotoGP bike. As it is his home Grand Prix, it is a circuit that Jake knows well and it will be great for the British fans to have another rider in the premier class.”
The news also means that Cal Crutchlow will become a factory MotoGP rider for the first time since 2014, as he joins championship leader Fabio Quartararo in the Monster Energy Yamaha team. It remains to be seen whether his appointment will be a longer-term affair beyond Silverstone following the news this morning of Vinales’ permanent departure from the squad.
Two British riders on the grid, in a season where none started as full-time racers, couldn’t come at a better time for series promoter Dorna, with next weekend’s race becoming only the second one since the BBC lost their TV deal at the end of the 2013 season to be aired live and for free in the UK.
Sunday’s race will be broadcast on ITV1, as part of a two-race special deal that also saw May’s French Grand Prix aired for free on ITV4.
