JAKARTA - Yamaha and Maverick Vinales on Friday agreed to end their partnership even though the 2021 MotoGP season is not yet over.
Following the Dutch GP on June 28, the Japanese factory team and the Spaniard announced they would end their two-year (2021-2022) contract early at the end of the season.
After the decision, Yamaha and the rider agreed to finish the rest of the season, but at the Styria Grand Prix, Vinales threw a tantrum out of frustration which led to him being suspended by Yamaha for being deemed to have the potential to cause engine damage, endangering himself and other riders.
Vinales last week apologized to Yamaha for the incident at the Styria GP, saying the situation was caused by frustration after experiencing a technical problem during the restart and finishing last, before opening the throttle wide to reach the maximum engine speed when entering the pit lane.
"It is with regret that at the Styria GP the race did not go well or ended well and consequently after careful consideration from both parties, a joint decision was reached that it would be good for both parties to end their partnership early," said Yamaha Motor Racing managing director Lin Jarvis. reported by Antara from the team's official website.
"This early separation will free the driver to follow his chosen future direction and will also allow the team to focus on its efforts for the remainder of the 2021 race season with a replacement driver, to be determined at a later date."
BREAKING: Maverick Viñales and @YamahaMotoGP end their 2021 agreement with immediate effect! Full details below! #MotoGP | https://t.co/5qBevswbqx
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) August 20, 2021
On Monday, Aprilia announced that it had proposed to Vinales to race with the Italian manufacturer next year.
The Spaniard has signed a one-year contract with the option of an extension and will partner compatriot Aleix Espargaro.
Vinales, who started his 125cc career with Aprilia, won Moto3 in 2013 with KTM.
The nine-time MotoGP Grand Prix winner is currently seventh in the standings, 86 points adrift of his team-mate and interim leader Fabio Quartararo.
"I am very grateful to Yamaha for this extraordinary opportunity. I am also grateful for the support they have given me during 4.5 years of racing and will look back with pride on the results we achieved together," said Vinales.
With Yamaha, Vinales has claimed eight wins, 24 podiums and two third-place finishes in 2017 and 2019.
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