Lewis Hamilton to Make Moto GP Debut: Everything There is to Know

Earlier this year, Lewis Hamilton confirmed that he will be trying out MotoGP machinery. The reigning world champion confessed that he is “super excited” by the prospect. This was actually made possible when Hamilton agreed to take part in a promotional event with Valentino Rossi.

This event is set to take place at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo Circuit in December, organised by drinks brand Monster Energy. Hamilton and MotoGP legend, Rossi will swap machines, with Rossi in Hamilton’s Mercedes.

It is no secret that Lewis Hamilton is fascinated by bikes and tested Yamaha’s Superbike last year at Jerez. However, he suffered a small scare when he crashed while driving the Yamaha YZF-R1, which was used in the World Superbike championship, reported Gazzetta dello Sport.

Even Rossi is no stranger to F1 machinery, having participated in several official test sessions with Ferrari in the mid-late 2000s. In fact, the 9-time world champion even seriously considered a move to the four-wheel championship.

“I am super excited by it,” said Hamilton. “I’ve been riding bikes for the last couple of years, I’ve only done three days on track, but they have been incredible and I am always watching MotoGP.

“It is great as there is a small group of us within the team that love riding and it is something I’ve always wanted to generally do since I was really young.

“It is really hardcore so I am just… just being on the same track at the same time as Valentino is going to be very, very surreal and a real honour.

“He is such an icon in the sport and he has done so much for it, and it will be cool to see him in my car.”

Other such F1-MotoGP crossovers included reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez and the now-retired Dani Pedrosa driving a Toro Rosso. Meanwhile, newly-retired rider, Jorge Lorenzo got behind the wheel of Mercedes’ W05 at Silverstone.

Even Fernando Alonso briefly trialled Repsol Honda’s MotoGP bike at the end of 2015 and 2016 as part of Honda’s Thanks Day celebrations at Motegi.