Assen (Netherlands) (AFP)
Spanish MotoGP rider Maverick Vinales and his Yamaha team will end their contract prematurely, at the end of the 2021 season rather than the end of 2022, the team said in a statement on Monday.
"At the request of Maverick Vinales, Yamaha has agreed to terminate their current two-year contract early (2021-2022, note)", writes the Japanese manufacturer.
"Currently in their fifth season together, they have mutually decided to go their separate ways at the end of the year."
This announcement is not a surprise, the Spanish media announcing since Saturday evening, on the sidelines of the Dutch Grand Prix, an upcoming alliance between Vinales, age 26, and Aprilia.
After two seasons in MotoGP with Suzuki, the Spaniard, crowned in Moto3 in 2013, joined Yamaha in 2017 for five ups and downs, with the best world ranking two third places among the riders in 2017 and 2019 but a sixth position. only in 2020.
The breaking point was finally reached during the German GP (June 18-20), where Vinales placed penultimate in qualifying and last in the race, only to be again only 6th overall in the MotoGP as they approach the summer break, while his French teammate Fabio Quartararo leads the championship.
Together, Vinales and Yamaha have gleaned 24 podiums including 8 victories and 13 pole positions.
The Japanese manufacturer could have two drivers to replace next season, while Italian Valentino Rossi, member of the SRT satellite team, is considering retiring.
© 2021 AFP