MotoGP BREAKING | Yamaha and Viñales decide to end the 2021 deal with immediate effect
Yamaha (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team) announced that the agreement with Maverick Viñales to end the 2021 season is cancelled, with immediate effect, that is, the Spaniard is no longer a Yamaha rider and no longer competes for the brand in the remaining races.
The company says that, after deep consideration by both parties, the mutual decision was reached to separate with immediate effect, leaving Viñales free to go his own way.
The relationship between the three tuning fork mark and the Spanish rider turned ‘sour’, and culminated in the early termination of the contract between the two parties. Viñales has been making pretty tough statements lately about the bike and the team. For 2022, he has already signed a contract with Aprilia and will race alongside Aleix Espargaro.
Finally, the company says it will announce, ‘in the future’, the rider who will fill Vinales’ place in the remaining races of the 2021 season.
Lin Jarvis (Yamaha Motor Racing 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.”
“I would like to express Yamaha‘s sincere gratitude to Maverick. Yamaha will continue to cherish the good memories and appreciate the work both parties put into the 4.5 years spent together that brought us 8 race victories, 24 podiums, and two third places in the 2017 and 2019 overall rider standings. We wish Maverick all the very best in his future endeavours.”
Maverick Viñales: “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.”
MotoGP returns on August 29th with the British GP at the Silverstone Circuit.