Motorcycling-Rins to replace Morbidelli at Yamaha MotoGP team (updated)
02/08/2023 11:15
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Rins to join Yamaha in 2024 season, replacing Morbidelli
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Spaniard currently recovering from surgery
(Adds Rins confirmed for 2024)
LONDON, Aug 2 (Reuters) -
Spaniard Alex Rins will replace Italian rider Franco
Morbidelli at Yamaha next season, the Japanese manufacturer's
factory MotoGP team said on Wednesday.
Rins, a six times MotoGP race winner including in Texas this
season, is currently recovering from surgery after breaking his
right leg in a sprint race in Italy in June and has missed the
last three grands prix.
He joins from LCR Honda as team mate to French rider and
2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo.
"Alex has been away from the MotoGP paddock for a while due
to the injury he sustained at Mugello, but we are confident that
he should be fully recovered and up to speed for the 2024
season," said team boss Lin Jarvis.
Morbidelli, 28, was championship runner-up to Spaniard
Joan Mir in 2020 when he won three grands prix but he has not
won a race since then. He starts this weekend's British Grand
Prix 11th in the standings, two places behind Quartararo.
"It's a shame that the last two years didn't play out the
way we both wanted and hoped for," said Jarvis.
"We discussed the possibilities to continue our partnership,
but ultimately we decided that 2024 would be a moment to make a
change, both for Yamaha and for Franky."
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Christian Radnedge)
((alan.baldwin@thomsonreuters.com; +442075427933;))