RNF Racing

RNF Racing
2023 nameMotoGP:
CryptoData RNF MotoGP Team
MotoE:
RNF MotoE Team
BaseSepang, Malaysia
Riders' Championships–

RNF Racing was a Malaysian independent Grand Prix motorcycle racing team that competed in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The team last competed with Aprilia motorcycles in the MotoGP class as a satellite team under the name CryptoData RNF MotoGP Team, and in MotoE under the name RNF MotoE Team.

History

The team's origins began with the Sepang Racing Team (SRT) under ownership by the Sepang International Circuit and managed by circuit CEO Razlan Razali and former racers Johan Stigefelt and Wilco Zeelenberg. During the 2021 season, the principal sponsor Petronas announced they would be removing their support for the team at the end of the season, and shortly thereafter SRT announced they would cease all racing activities at the end of the season.[1] Control of the team and its assets were taken over by Razali and Stigefelt[1] to create the rebranded RNF Racing team, with an agreement from Dorna Sports for a grid slot at least until the end of 2026.[2][3] Razali confirmed the significance of the team name as coming from the initials of his family name as well as the names of his children (Razali, Nadia and Farouk).[4] On 30 October, RNF announced that Stigefelt would split from the team under "mutual agreement".[5]

The team continued in 2022 under a number of SRT's previous agreements, with Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso on a factory-specification Yamaha YZR-M1.[6] Darryn Binder was promoted from the Moto3 Petronas Sprinta Racing team as the team's second rider, aboard a 2021-specification Yamaha machine.[7] Naming rights for the team were secured by Italian energy and telecommunications brand WithU in early 2022, and the team raced under the name WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Racing.[8]

On 27 May 2022, it was announced that the team would use Aprilia bikes starting with the 2023 season.[9] In November 2022, it was announced that Romanian blockchain company CryptoDATA Tech had purchased a majority stake in the team which would be named CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team for 2023.[10][11] Riders Miguel Oliveira and Raúl Fernández joined from the KTM stable.[12]

On 27 November 2023, the MotoGP Selection Committee announced that CryptoDATA RNF would not be permitted participation in the 2024 MotoGP championship, citing repeated infractions and breaches of the Participation Agreement.[13] Trackhouse Racing was later announced to take over RNF's grid slot from the 2024 season.[14]

Results

By season

Year Class Team name Bike Riders Races Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points Pos.
2022 MotoGP WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team Yamaha YZR-M1 Italy Andrea Dovizioso 14 0 0 0 0 15 21st
South Africa Darryn Binder 20 0 0 0 0 12 24th
United Kingdom Cal Crutchlow 6 0 0 0 0 10 25th
MotoE WithU GRT RNF MotoE Team Energica Ego Corsa Italy Niccolò Canepa 12 0 1 0 0 94.5 7th
Italy Andrea Mantovani 4 0 0 0 0 25 16th
Germany Lukas Tulovic 2 0 0 0 0 10 19th
United Kingdom Bradley Smith 6 0 0 0 0 12 18th
2023 MotoGP CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team Aprilia RS-GP22 Spain Raúl Fernández 19 0 0 0 0 51 20th
Italy Lorenzo Savadori 2 0 0 0 0 7 (12)[a] 24th
Portugal Miguel Oliveira 18 0 0 0 0 76 16th
MotoE RNF MotoE Team Ducati V21L Italy Andrea Mantovani 16 1 1 0 0 138 8th
Spain Mika Pérez 16 0 0 0 0 53 15th

MotoGP results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Motorcycle Name Tyres Riders 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Points RC Points TC Points MC
2022 Yamaha YZR-M1 WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team M QAT INA ARG AME POR SPA FRA ITA CAT GER NED GBR AUT RSM ARA JPN THA AUS MAL VAL
Italy Andrea Dovizioso 14 Ret 20 15 11 17 16 20 Ret 14 16 16 15 12 15 21st 37 11th 256 2nd
United Kingdom Cal Crutchlow 14 15 19 13 12 16 10 25th
South Africa Darryn Binder 16 10 18 22 17 Ret 17 16 12 Ret Ret 20 Ret 16 18 Ret 21 14 Ret Ret 12 24th
2023 Aprilia RS-GP CryptoData RNF MotoGP Team M POR ARG AME SPA FRA ITA GER NED GBR AUT CAT RSM IND JPN INA AUS THA MAL QAT VAL
Spain Raúl Fernández Ret 14 Ret 15 WD 17 15 12 10 Ret Ret 8 109 9 13 16 15 Ret 17 5 51 20th 134 8th 326 3rd
Italy Lorenzo Savadori 12 13 7 (12)[a] 24th
Portugal Miguel Oliveira Ret7 58 Ret5 Ret 10 Ret 4 Ret 56 6 12 18 12 13 Ret Ret DNS 76 16th

Notes

  1. ^ a b Non-bracketed number refers to the number accumulated with the motorcycle, with number in brackets referring to the total accumulated for the season.

References

  1. ^ a b Duncan, Lewis (26 August 2021). "SRT quits MotoGP, announcement of new team due at Misano". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Sepang Racing Team to rebrand as RNF MotoGP Racing". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  3. ^ McLaren, Peter (17 September 2021). "Petronas SRT reborn as 'RNF MotoGP Racing' for 2022". Crash.net. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  4. ^ Ishak, Fadhli (22 September 2021). "Co-owner Razlan reveals meaning behind RNF | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  5. ^ Duncan, Lewis (30 October 2021). "RNF explains MotoGP management reshuffle for 2022". Autosport.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  6. ^ Duncan, Lewis (17 September 2021). "Sepang Racing Team to be rebranded as RNF Racing in MotoGP". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  7. ^ Duncan, Lewis (21 October 2021). "Darryn Binder says Moto3 to MotoGP jump a "no-brainer"". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  8. ^ "WithU Yamaha RNF Team reveal 2022 colours". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  9. ^ "WithU Yamaha RNF to become satellite team of Aprilia". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  10. ^ "CryptoDATA becomes RNF MotoGP™ majority shareholder". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  11. ^ @rnfracingteam (8 November 2022). "CryptoDATA Aprilia RNF MotoGP Team" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 November 2022 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ "Aprilia RNF confirm Oliveira and Fernandez for 2023". www.motogp.com. Dorna Sports. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  13. ^ "FIM, IRTA and Dorna will not renew contract with CryptoDATA MotoGP™ Team". 27 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  14. ^ "From the USA to MotoGP: welcome, Trackhouse Racing!". 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.