The MotoGP rookie fighting two fronts in his debut year

Darryn Binder has found himself in the unenviable position as MotoGP's most under-pressure rookie in 2022 having made the step directly from Moto3 with a reputation as an over-aggressive rider. This hasn't been an easy thing to shake at the start of the season, but he believes tangible progress is being made

Updated Apr 18, 2022, 8:58 AM

The job MotoGP rookies face now is astronomically difficult. Such is the level of the premier class in 2022 that every rider has won a race at least once in one of the classes of grand prix racing, while 14 of the current crop of 24 have won world titles.

On top of that, the level of rookies in recent years has been so high that expectations have naturally (but unfairly) have shifted. In the last two seasons, two newcomers – Brad Binder and Jorge Martin – scored wins in their rookie campaigns, while there have been strong podium showings for the likes of Fabio Quartararo in 2019, Alex Marquez in 2020 and Enea Bastianini in 2021.

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Author Lewis Duncan

Lewis Duncan is Autosport's International Editor and primary motorcycle racing reporter. A motorsport fan from a young age, Lewis became interested in journalism when he won the star letter competition in the February 2012 issue of F1 Racing Magazine. A member of the Autosport Academy from 2017, Lewis became a freelance motorcycle racing correspondent for Autosport in 2019 before becoming a full-time staffer in 2020 as International Editor.

While MotoGP coverage is his priority, Lewis also covers World Superbikes and road racing across the Motorsport Network, and hosts the Tank Slappers Podcast. He has also occasionally commentated on 750 Motor Club meetings. Away from motorsport, Lewis is a keen record collector with a collection unashamedly largely featuring Iron Maiden and Rush and an avid guitar player.