Ex-MotoGP rider Bradley Smith set for GP return with RNF 2022 MotoE deal

Former MotoGP rider Bradley Smith looks on course to make a return to the Grand Prix racing paddock next season amid strong rumours he will compete with RNF E-Racing in the 2022 MotoE World Cup.

The British rider competed in the MotoGP World Championship between 2013 and 2020 across Tech 3 Yamaha, Red Bull KTM and Aprilia Racing teams before taking a step back from racing in 2021 to focus on various personal projects off-track.

However, Smith looks set to be back in his leathers and back in the GP paddock next year after being closely linked with the RNF E-Racing team for a stint in the MotoE World Cup.

The MotoE set-up aligned with the WithU RNF Racing Yamaha MotoGP team, Smith previously competed with the Malaysian outfit for the inaugural MotoE season in 2019, ending the year runner-up to Matteo Ferrari with four podiums to his name.

Though both rider and team are yet to confirm the deal, it is expected he is the latest to join the field in what will be the final season with an Energica Ego Corse supply before Ducati takes over as the control supplier.

Smith’s return comes after dabbling in other ventures this year, including Project 109, a race team he has set up with Claudio Corti to run, train and coach riders that will compete in the CIV Italian series, while he has also been enlisted as the head of the eSkootr Championship Rider Programme. 

Who are Bradley Smith’s MotoE rivals?

There are still a number of seats on the 2022 MotoE grid to fill but 2020 and 2021 MotoE Champion Jordi Torres will be back with Pons Racing, where he will be joined by Mattia Casadei, while Ferrari remains with Gresini.

Eric Granado - one of the front runners in 2021 - will also race again but has moved to LCR, while Hector Garzo and Alex Escrig form the Tech 3 E-Racing line-up.