Yamaha ends MotoGP contract with Maverick Vinales
Maverick Vinales will no longer race for Yamaha in MotoGP with immediate effect
Following the events in the MotoGP Styrian round, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider, Maverick Vinales, will be parting ways with Yamaha with immediate effect. This means that the Spaniard will no longer ride for them until the end of the season, and the decision is said to be 'mutual' between both parties.
According to Lin Jarvis, Yamaha Motor Racing's Managing Director, "In Assen Yamaha and Viñales already announced the mutual decision to cut short their original 2021-2022 programme and to finish it at the end of 2021. A commitment was made by both rider and team to continue to the end of the current season, with the team guaranteeing its full support and the rider giving his maximum efforts so that we could finish the project 'in style'."
"Regretfully at the Styrian GP the race did not go well or end well and consequently after deep consideration by both parties, the mutual decision was reached that it would be better for both parties if we end the partnership earlier. The early separation will release the rider to be free to follow his chosen future direction and will also permit the team to focus its efforts on the remaining races of the 2021 season with a replacement rider – yet to be determined," added Jarvis.
As for Maverick Vinales, he stated "Following our mutual decision in Assen to part ways a year early, it was also decided to commit to completing the current season with maximum effort from both sides. However, at the Styrian GP the race didn‘t turn out as we had hoped, and regrettably, it did not end well."
"After thorough consideration, both parties have agreed it would be best to end the partnership with immediate effect. I am deeply grateful to Yamaha for the great opportunity. I am also thankful for the support they gave me during these 4.5 years of racing and will look back with pride on the results we achieved together. I will always have great respect for Yamaha and wish them the very best," added Vinales.