Johnny Garness returns to racing with GRYD Racing in Valencia after more than three years on the sidelines
GRYD Racing is delighted to announce that Johnny Garness will return to competitive racing in Valencia, more than three years after a serious injury forced the young British rider to step away from the sport.
Johhny Garness during a private test in Valencia, Spain.
The Barnstaple - born rider suffered a serious accident in April 2023 while riding at the Estoril circuit in Portugal during a pre-season test with the team. Just 14 years old at the time, Johnny was subsequently forced to put his racing career on hold while he concentrated on his recovery.
Now 18, Garness will make his return to competition in the Moto3 Junior World Championship, formerly known as JuniorGP, joining fellow British rider Evan Belford in the GRYD Racing garage.
Johhny will compete in the next two rounds of the championship at Valencia and Aragón as he begins the next chapter of his racing career.
His return marks a significant moment for both Johnny and GRYD Racing. When Johnny was forced to step away from racing in 2023, the team made him a promise: whenever he was ready to return, there would be a bike waiting for him.
More than three years later, GRYD Racing is proud to honour that commitment.
Interestingly, Johnny’s return will see him step straight into the highest level of junior motorcycle racing, at a level above that at which he was competing when his career was interrupted by injury.
However, there is deliberately no pressure on Johnny to return at pace or immediately reproduce the results he achieved before his injury. The priority is to allow him the time and space to rediscover the feeling of racing, rebuild his confidence and adapt to the physical and mental demands of competition after such a lengthy abscence.
The team will approach the opening rounds as a period of adaptation and learning, with Johnny’s progress measured by his development rather than results.
“I’m extremely grateful to my team, GRYD Racing, which I consider to be a second home, for giving me this opportunity and for continuing to believe in me.
It means a lot to finally be back. When I was injured, the team told me that whenever I was ready to return, there would be a bike waiting for me, so to now be able to make that return with GRYD Racing is something I’m incredibly grateful for.
Over the past few months, I’ve been training and preparing at the Santacrew Academy and I know that, although the road ahead won’t be easy, both the team and I will do everything we can to give our very best on track.
I also know that after such a long time away, it’s going to take time to get back into the rhythm of racing. There is no pressure on me to achieve anything immediately. I just want to enjoy being back on the bike, keep learning and take each session as it comes.
I’d also like to thank my family, my sponsors and everyone who has believed in me throughout this journey, which has been a long one.
See you in Valencia!”
“We’re incredibly happy to have Johnny back in the box. He’s a rider who is very much loved by everyone in the team, and seeing him back on a GRYD Racing bike is a really special moment for all of us.
When Johnny was injured, we told him that whenever he was ready to come back, we would have a bike for him. We’ve always stood by that, and it’s fantastic that we’re now in a position to honour that promise.
What’s particularly exciting is that Johnny is coming back at an even higher level than where he was when he was injured. He’s going straight into the Moto3 Junior World Championship, which is a huge step, but we’re not putting any pressure on him to come back and perform immediately.
After more than three years away from racing, nobody should expect Johnny to jump straight back in and be at his previous level. There will naturally be an adaptation period, both physically and mentally, and our job as a team is to give him the time and support he needs.
We’ve already had the opportunity to test in Valencia, and the most important thing was simply seeing Johnny back on the bike, enjoying himself and getting comfortable again.
We’ll take these first two rounds step by step. There are no targets for results and no pressure. We just want Johnny to rebuild his race rythm, regain his confidence and enjoy being a motorcycle racer again.
The fact that he’s made it back to this point is an achievement in itself, and we’re incredibly proud to be part of the next chapter.”
Johhny Garness visited the team at the first round in Barcelona, Spain.
Johnny Garness - Profile
Garness announced himself as one of Britain’s most promising young motorcyle racers by winning the British Talent Cup Championship in 2022 in dominant fashion.
Then the 13-year-old claimed 12 race victories and 14 podium finishes, finishing the championship with 336 points (104 points clear of the runner-up.)
That same year, he also made his European Talent Cup debut with GRYD Racing, competing in four rounds of the championship.
He scored points at each of the events he contested:
Estoril: 2 points
Jerez: 5 points - 3 in Race 1 and 2 in Race 2.
Portimao: 8 points
Valencia: 5 points
Johnny’s progress was subsequently interrupted by the serious accident at Estoril in April 2023, beginning a journey that would keep him away from competitive racing for more than three years.
Now, at 18 years of age, he returns to the GRYD Racing fold and will take his place on the grid in the Moto3 Junior World Championship.
For Johnny, the next two rounds are not about proving what he can do. They are simply about being back where he belongs.