MISANO ADRIATICO, Italy – Officials from Yamaha have confirmed major changes to the organization’s MotoGP rider roster beginning this weekend with the San Marino Grand Prix.
Franco Morbidelli, who has rode for SRT Yamaha since 2019, has been promoted to the Yamaha factory program alongside his former teammate Fabio Quartararo in a multi-year agreement through 2023. Quartararo joined the factory Yamaha program this year and currently leads the MotoGP standings.
Morbidelli’s promotion comes after Yamaha recently parted ways with Maverick Vinales.
“I’m very pleased and happy about facing this weekend and this highly anticipated new chapter with the factory Yamaha team,” said Morbidelli. “I’ve been trying to recover as much as possible for the final stage of this championship. I wanted to make my comeback at a track I know well and have great memories of, like Misano.
”I’m looking forward to jumping on the bike and starting my journey with the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team. Of course, I need and I want to thank all the people who made this happen, starting with Ito-san, Lin, Maio, Sumi-san, the VR46 Riders Academy, and all other people who made this collaboration possible.”
With Morbidelli shifting to the Yamaha factory team, SRT Yamaha officials have announced that former Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso has joined the team for the remainder of the season and the full 2022 campaign. Dovizioso has been inactive this year after losing his seat at Ducati at the end of 2020, but he’ll be back on the grid starting with the San Marino Grand Prix.
“Racing with Yamaha has always been my dream, and that’s why when the opportunity arrived I did not think twice, although I know it’s going to be a tough challenge for me,” Dovizioso said. “I’ve got many things ahead of me to learn: a new bike, a new team, a new working system. It‘s a big challenge that starts at Misano, my home GP. This makes it even more exciting. I can’t wait to be aboard my M1.”