How one MotoGP team went from title fights to losing it all in four years

By:

Lewis Duncan

Jan 3, 2023, 9:37 AM

The Petronas Sepang Racing Team came into MotoGP with a bang in 2019 as regular front-runners, with wonder rookie Fabio Quartararo mounting a title challenge in 2020. But it all went wrong for the Razlan Razali-helmed squad as the team changed hands and tumbled down the order - and RNF Racing plans to right this in 2023

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Believe it or not, the team known as RNF Racing, that finished 11th out of 12 in the 2022 MotoGP teams’ championship and had a highest-placed rider of 21st, is the same squad that finished runner-up in the title race in 2020.

Back then, RNF Racing was the Sepang Racing Team and was backed by Malaysian oil giant Petronas. SRT had spent numerous years in the Moto3 and Moto2 class before it elected to make the step up to MotoGP in 2019, taking over the grid slots of the Marc VDS Honda squad after it got itself mired in internal troubles.

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Lewis Duncan

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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.