Maverick Viñales and Yamaha end MotoGP contract with immediate effect

[Stu]

Yamaha and Maverick Viñales and Yamaha have parted ways by mutual agreement after the rider was suspended for hitting the rev limiter. His replacement has yet to be announced

Yamaha

AUTHOR

Dominic Tobin

Maverick Viñales and Yamaha have ended their contract mid-season after the rider was suspended for hitting the rev limiter during the Styrian Grand Prix.

The Spaniard, who has signed to Aprilia for 2022 will not ride for Yamaha again this yer.

Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow, who was scheduled to ride for Petronas SRT in the next round at Silverstone, is now expected to move up to the factory outfit for the British Grand Prix, with Moto2 rider Jake Dixon filling in for the injured Franco Morbidelli at the satellite team.

Viñales’s replacement for the rest of the season has yet to be announced.

In June, the 26-year-old announced a “mutual decision” to end his Yamaha contract early at the end of this season, but the relationship came to an end even sooner after a torrid Styrian Grand Prix, where he stalled during a restart, received a long-lap penalty for exceeding track limits and finished last for the second time in three races.

His weekend went from bad to worse when he was then suspended by his team for “irregular operation” of his Yamaha M1. A video then emerged of him revving his bike to the limit in the pitlane.

 

 

Viñales missed the following Austrian Grand Prix and was also suspended for the British race.

“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,” said Viñales in a statement. “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.

 

 

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