Once again, it's been a memorable year for the premier class of motorcycle racing.

There have been the highs of the crowning of a new champion, and we've seen the curtain come down on the 26-year career of one of the true sports icons, Valentino Rossi. However, as one door closes, another one opens; with the start of the 2022 season just over three months away, talk has quickly moved to who will establish themselves at the top of the tree and become the next legend.

It's going to be an exciting campaign next year, which is set to get underway in Qatar in March. Will we see Maverick Vinales pick up where he left off last year under the floodlights and take his first victory on the Aprilia? Or will be it be Honda introducing their latest iteration of their RC213V for a hopefully, fully fit Marc Marquez who steps on the top step of the podium to kick off their season with a bang? There are many possible permutations over what will be the longest season in recent years, with the riders taking on 21 different circuits, including one new one in Finland. It's difficult to predict who will be the next world champion, but we'll do our best to highlight who could be the top three to look out for in MotoGP 2022.

Fabio Quartararo

It's impossible to look past the 22-year-old Frenchman who, as Reuters reported, became the first from his nation to take the crown of MotoGP world champion in 2021. Despite his Monster Energy Yamaha YZF-M1 not being the quickest bike in the paddock, he rode it majestically to take the title. His win at Silverstone in the U.K. just highlighted a rider at the peak of his powers, he left everyone in his wheel tracks. Although it was one of only five victories, the key was his consistency as he stood on the podium ten times. Now, with Quartararo's added experience and the factory Yamaha team working on the bike further to add more speed to go with its agility, he's going to be another one to watch in 2022.

Francesco Bagnaia

Like Quartararo, it was Bagnaia's first season in a full factory team, and he took to the Ducati Desmosedici like a veteran. He took his first of nine visits to the podium in the season's first race in Qatar. Still, his performances towards the back of the season have really made people take note, and it's why Bagnaia is likely to be installed as the early favourite to win the Qatar Grand Prix with Ladbrokes. The Italian took five pole positions in the final six races and picked up four wins in the process too. With the Desmosedici being the quickest bike in the paddock allied with the bravery of Bagnaia, he's at the tip of everyone's tongue for the 2022 title.

Joan Mir

The 2020 champion is looking to revitalise the fortunes of the Suzuki GSX-RR after a rather disappointing 2021; it was a year in which he didn't live up to his best. The key to his championship just over a year ago was his consistency; whilst others may have taken more wins, the Spanish rider just kept churning out solid results. But in 2021, it didn't come to fruition as a couple of DNFs were smattered in-between disappointing 8th and 9th place finishes. However, when he was in the mix, he showed all his experience as the latter stages of the campaign proved to be fruitful. Mir stood on the podium three times in the final eight races and with Suzuki ahead of others with their engine testing for the GSX-RR, it might just give Mir the edge to once again battle for the crown.

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