Yamaha MotoGP riders banned after expensive breakout

Viñales from Yamaha with immediate effect

Blow hot and cold

Won one weekend, dead last the next, for no apparent reason. Persistence is not one of his strengths.

Maverick Viñales won’t be returning to the Yamaha factory team to see the rest of the season. He and Yamaha had already agreed at the end of the season to part ways and terminate his two-year deal, but his actions at the first ever Austrian MotoGP round, where he deliberately tried to blow up his bike’s engine in frustration, were important to a head.

A statement from team director Lin Jarvis indicated that the Viñales had failed to honor their commitment to professionally follow up the season following the decision to terminate the contract at the end of the year.

Five seasons, eight wins

Not a great hit rate and just too volatile for its own good

The explanation is as follows:

“In Assen, Yamaha and Viñales announced the joint decision to shorten their original program from 2021-2022 and end it at the end of 2021.

“Both the driver and the team are committed to continuing until the end of the current season, with the team guaranteeing their full support and the driver going out of their way to ensure that we can complete the project ‘in style’.

“Unfortunately, the race at the Styrian GP did not go well or ended well and so, after careful consideration by both sides, the joint decision was made that it would be better for both sides if we ended the partnership earlier.

“The early separation gives the driver the freedom to pursue his chosen future direction and also enables the team to concentrate on the remaining races of the 2021 season with a replacement driver who has yet to be determined.

“I would like to sincerely thank Yamaha Maverick. Yamaha will continue to cherish the good memories and appreciate the work that both sides have spent together in the 4.5 years that have brought us 8 race wins, 24 podiums and two third places in the 2017 and 2019 overall rider rankings. We wish Maverick all the best for the future. “

The replacement driver is likely to be Cal Crutchlow, who is currently replacing the injured Franco Morbidelli at Petronas Yamaha. Crutchlow is the contracted test rider for Yamaha.

Viñales was seventh in the championship standings so a chance for the title was unlikely, but the move could have an impact on Yamaha in the Constructors’ Championship, where they are embroiled in a fierce battle with Ducati.

Viñales already has a contract with Aprilia for 2022.