Paris (AFP)

Maverick Vinales will be leaving Yamaha with immediate effect following disagreements between the Spanish MotoGP rider and the Japanese brand for which Frenchman Fabio Quartararo currently leads the world championship.

"At the end of the Dutch Grand Prix on June 28, it was announced that Yamaha and Maverick Vinales would terminate, at the end of the current season, the two-year contract between them for the period 2021-2022 Due to recent events at the Styrian GP, ​​and after careful consideration by both parties, they have come to a mutual conclusion to separate with immediate effect, "Yamaha said in a statement on Friday.

The Spanish rider Maverick Vinales, riding his Yamaha, during the 3rd practice session of the MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix, June 26, 2021 at the Assen circuit Vincent Jannink ANP / AFP / Archives

Currently 7th in the world championship, the 26-year-old Spanish driver cited a litany of technical issues during the Styrian GP.

Set off to take last place for the second time in three races, he ended up returning to the garage with one lap from the end.

Yamaha then suspended the pilot, accusing him of "improper and unexplained use of his motorcycle" which could have caused significant damage to the machine.

Vinales was consequently deprived by Yamaha of the following Grand Prix last weekend in Austria and apologized to the Japanese team.

He has since announced that he has signed a contract with Italian brand Aprilia to race in MotoGP next season.

Yamaha did not immediately indicate who would replace him in the factory team alongside Fabio Quartararo, the young French leader (22) in the championship.

- Dominated by Quartararo -

Winner of the first GP of the season in Qatar, Vinales was then dominated by his teammate, with the best result being a 2nd place in the GP of the Netherlands, behind Quartararo.

The joy of the Spanish rider Maverick Vinales, after winning the MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix on his Yamaha, March 28, 2021 at the Lusail International Circuit KARIM JAAFAR AFP / Archives

The native of Figueres made his MotoGP debut in 2015 and has been racing for Yamaha since 2017. He has won nine Grands Prix in the premier class and was twice 3rd in the World Championship (2017 and 2019), after being crowned in Moto3 in 2013.

“After our joint decision in Assen to go our separate ways a year earlier than expected, it was also decided to end the current season with maximum efforts from both sides. But the Styrian GP did not go as we did. hoped and regrettably did not end well, "said Vinales, quoted in the press release.

Vinales had not been replaced at Yamaha for the Styrian GP, ​​leaving Quartararo to defend the colors of the factory team on his own.

The divorce between Yamaha and his now ex-teammate puts the Frenchman in a delicate position as he has to defend himself in the championship against a horde of Ducati, in addition to the Suzuki crowned last year thanks to the Spaniard Joan Mir.

Frenchman Fabio Quartararo, riding his Yamaha, leads in front of Spaniard Jorge Martin (Ducati-Pramac), during the 2nd practice session of the Styrian Grand Prix, August 6, 2021 on the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg ( Austria) JOE KLAMAR AFP / Archives

He is currently 47 points ahead of the Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) and Mir, tied for second, and 49 over the other Frenchman entered in MotoGP, Johann Zarco (Ducati).

The absence of a teammate capable of taking points from the competition therefore risks penalizing him while there are still eight rounds to go, out of the 19 on the calendar.

Yamaha also has a satellite team in MotoGP, SRT, which features veteran Italian Valentino Rossi and his compatriot Franco Morbidelli.

Rossi has indicated that at 42 he will retire at the end of the year despite disappointing results.

As for Morbidelli, he is unavailable until September due to knee surgery.

Italian Yamaha-SRT rider Valentino Rossi during a pit stop after the 3rd practice session of the MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix, August 14, 2021 on the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg JOE KLAMAR AFP /Archives

Briton Cal Crutchlow replaced Morbidelli at the Styrian GP.

He could, according to unconfirmed reports, take the handlebars of Vinales for the British GP at Silverstone at the end of next week.

Crutchlow has come out of retirement to take over the handlebars and although, at 35, his experience is invaluable, he may lack the speed needed to fight for the top spots ... and therefore help Quartararo.

© 2021 AFP