GERNO DI LESMO, Italy – Following Maverick Viñales‘ request, Yamaha has mutually agreed to end its current two-year contract with Viñales early.
The pairing is currently in their fifth season together.
Both parties are committed to putting in the maximum effort for the remainder of the MotoGP season to end the relationship on a high note.
“It is with sadness that we will say farewell to Maverick at the end of the year,” said Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director Lin Jarvis. “We are in the middle of our fifth season together and over the years we have achieved many highs but also had to manage many lows. After the German GP, which was the most difficult weekend of our partnership, we had important discussions in Assen and came to the conclusion that it would be in the interest of both parties to go our separate ways in the future. Yamaha will put in their maximum effort – as we always have done – to give full support to Maverick and finish this season in the very best way possible.”
In his three seasons as a Yamaha factory rider, Viñales has earned four premier class wins, 12 podiums and seven pole positions, with a best finish of third in points in 2019. Since first stepping up to MotoGP’s top level in 2015, Vinales is a nine-time winner overall.
“This partnership has been very significant to me over the last five years, and it proved a difficult decision to part ways,” said Viñales. “In these seasons together, we experienced both great achievements and tough times. However, the underlying feeling is of mutual respect and appreciation. I am fully committed and will strive to achieve the best results for the rest of the season.”