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It was a great time for the MotoGP cameras to be running behind the scenes in the American Racing Team garage at the opening round of Moto2 in Qatar in early March. We all benefit by getting to see a revealing video of a breakthrough performance by the only U.S. rider in any MotoGP class.
In two years in Moto2, Roberts had finished 27th and 28th in the final standings, scoring a total of nine points. But a few key changes were made going into the 2020 season. While all Moto2 race bikes use the Triumph 765 engine, the American Racing Team, which Roberts races for, switched from the KTM chassis to the more successful Kalex chassis. Roberts also got a new crew chief in Lucio Nicastro. And, the most important change, Roberts says, is the addition of former MotoGP and World Superbike rider John Hopkins as a rider coach.
The changes paid huge and instant dividends at the opening round in Qatar last month. (Though the MotoGP race was canceled, Moto2 and Moto3 races could take place because teams were already in Qatar for the final preseason test when travel restrictions were imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak.) Roberts won pole position after he and Luca Marini set identical qualifying times, but Roberts had the second-best time. In the race, he contended for the lead in a multi-rider battle before slipping back to fourth at the finish. Still, the 13 points won in the first race was more than the previous two seasons combined.
(Due to Dorna's restrictions, when you click on the video below, you'll be prompted to view it on YouTube.)
No one knows when we will get to see the next chapter in Joe Roberts' career. But it's been 14 years since we last saw a U.S. rider win a world championship in a MotoGP class and, before that, 20 years since we saw another Roberts from California (no relation) win a title. So we've learned patience and whenever the next part of the story is revealed, we'll be watching.
