MotoGP: Viñales signs two-year MotoGP deal with Yamaha
The Spaniard is to become team-mate to Valentino Rossi
MOVISTAR Yamaha have announced today that Maverick Viñales will be joining the team alongside Valentino Rossi for the 2017 and 2018 MotoGP seasons.
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd have confirmed the signing of Viñales for the next two year's where he will ride the Movistar Yamaha YZF-M1 and join nine-time World Champion Rossi whose contract renewal was announced in March this year.
In relation, Suzuki Motor Corporation have also announced that its collaboration with Maverick Viñales will come to an end after the 2016 MotoGP season. The team have expressed how grateful they are to Viñales for the contribution he has given the MotoGP project and the development of the GSX-RR.
A statement from Yamaha reads:
'It is with great pleasure that Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd announces the signing of Maverick Viñales to ride for the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team for 2017 and 2018.
'Viñales, who is presently 5th in the MotoGP™ Championship standings, will partner 9-time World Champion Valentino Rossi, whose contract renewal was already announced in March this year.'
With Viñales confirmed with Yamaha, Suzuki are now able to announce their line-up which is likely to be Andrea Iannone alongside Aleix Espargaro after it was announced yesterday that the Ducati team were keeping Andrea Dovizioso instead.
