Alex Rins will join Fabio Quartararo in the factory Yamaha MotoGP squad in 2024, the Japanese manufacturer announced on Wednesday morning ahead of the British Grand Prix.
Rins had been heavily rumoured to be working on a deal with Yamaha in recent times having been left frustrated with the lack of attention given to him by Honda at current team LCR, despite the Spaniard having taken the brands only win of 2023 thus far at the Circuit of the Americas back in April.
He was also keen to return to a factory operation having spent a total of six seasons with Suzuki’s official outfit from when he made his premier class debut in 2017 until the manufacturer pulled out of MotoGP at the end of last season, facilitating his switch to Honda-satellite team LCR as ex-Suzuki team-mate Joan Mir joined the factory Repsol Honda squad.
Yamaha Racing Managing Director Lin Jarvis says he is “delighted” to have secured the services of the six-time premier class race winner for 2024 onwards, adding his experience of working with multiple manufacturers in MotoGP as a key strength to helping Yamaha recover from its current form slump.
“We are delighted that Alex is joining the Yamaha line-up, and we warmly welcome him to the Yamaha MotoGP group,” said Jarvis.
“We expect Alex to be a great asset. He has vast experience as a MotoGP rider and is known to be a natural talent and a multi-time MotoGP class race winner.
He already has experience with two other MotoGP manufacturers and has ridden bikes with similar characteristics to the YZR-M1, which should help him adapt quickly to our bike.
“His win in COTA earlier this year underlines his speed, hunger, and determination to succeed.
“We are really looking forward to working with him and believe that he will collaborate well with Fabio and enhance the total performance of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team.”
Rins remains on the sidelines having broken his leg in a crash during the Italian GP sprint race at Mugello back in June, with a return not yet pencilled in as he continues to recover – the Catalan GP in early September likely the earliest opportunity of a racing comeback to complete his brief Honda tenure.
The news of Rins’ signing comes shortly after Yamaha announced it would be parting ways with 2020 MotoGP vice-champion Morbidelli, who joined the team mid-way through the 2021 campaign.
The Italian has struggled to find consistent form on the M1 across his time within the organisation –particularly against team-mate and 2021 premier class world champion Quartararo.
Morbidelli’s chances of remaining in MotoGP look relatively bleak with only seats at Ducati satellite teams VR46 and Gresini looking remotely possible, with a switch to the World Superbike paddock providing a back-up option should he be unable to find a berth in MotoGP for next season.
