Yamaha has confirmed that 2021 MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo and his current team‑mate Alex Rins will depart the factory squad at the conclusion of the 2026 campaign, signalling a major shift in the manufacturer’s rider line‑up ahead of the 2027 season. Quartararo, long linked with a move to Honda for the upcoming 850cc era, is expected to finalise his switch imminently. The Frenchman has spent his entire premier‑class career with Yamaha machinery, debuting with Petronas SRT in 2019 before stepping up to the factory team in 2021, where he claimed the world title. He has amassed 11 victories and 32 podiums with the marque, though the partnership has grown increasingly strained amid Yamaha’s prolonged downturn in competitiveness. Rins, who joined Yamaha in 2024, previously delivered race‑winning performances at Suzuki and Honda but has struggled to replicate that form aboard the M1. He confirmed earlier this year that he would not remain with the team beyond 2026, and paddock sources suggest he may not feature on the MotoGP grid next season. Yamaha motorsport director Paolo Pavesio paid tribute to both riders, describing Quartararo as “one of the true legends of Yamaha MotoGP” and praising Rins for the experience and technical […]
