Mavrick Vinales will replace the outgoing Jorge Lorenzo at Yamaha next season, the Japanese MotoGP team has confirmed.
Vinales will partner Valentino Rossi in 2017 and 2018, with both signing two-year contracts with Yamaha this year.
"It is with great pleasure that Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd announces the signing of Maverick Vinales to ride for the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team for 2017 and 2018," read a team statement.
"Vinales, who is presently 5th in the MotoGP championship standings, will partner nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi, whose contract renewal was already announced in March this year."
