QUARTARARO AND RINS TO LEAVE YAMAHA AT THE END OF 2026
Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins are leaving Yamaha Factory Racing at the end of the season, confirming a major change in the team’s rider line-up in the MotoGP.
Quartararo, the 2021 MotoGP world champion, is moving on after several seasons in which Yamaha has struggled to consistently fight at the front. His departure marks the end of a long partnership with the Japanese manufacturer and closes a key chapter in his career with the factory team.
Alex Rins is also leaving Yamaha after a shorter and more difficult period, with injuries and adaptation issues limiting his ability to regularly compete at the front since joining the project.
Attention now turns to Yamaha’s future rider plans, with Ai Ogura and Jorge Martín being closely linked as potential key figures in the team’s next project cycle. Both riders are seen as strong long-term options as Yamaha looks to rebuild competitiveness.
At the same time, Quartararo is expected to join Honda HRC from the next season, marking another major shift in the MotoGP rider market. His move is seen as a significant boost for Honda as the manufacturer continues its efforts to return to consistent race-winning form.
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