MotoGP: Yamaha retains Alex Rins until 2026, signs suggest

Yamaha has extended Alex Rins’ contract for another two seasons, keeping him with the team until the end of the 2026 MotoGP Championship. The decision, announced before the British Grand Prix, underlines Yamaha’s belief in Rins as a key figure in their bid to regain competitiveness. Since joining Yamaha at the start of 2024 to replace Franco Morbidelli, Rins has performed well, winning points in a number of races and adapting well to the Yamaha M1. Although he missed the German Grand Prix due to a crash in Assen, he is fit enough to resume MotoGP racing after the summer break and therefore be available to race at Silverstone. Yamaha’s choice to keep Rins reflects their confidence in his ability to help develop the M1 and close the performance gap with key rivals Ducati, Aprilia and KTM. Rins’ experience and skills are seen as a key asset to the team’s future.

Alex Rins said: “I am very happy to continue with Yamaha for another two years and I would like to thank the Iwata team and the management for their trust in me. We have a clear goal to get Yamaha back to where it should be, and that is to compete for championships. From the beginning, I saw Yamaha’s willingness to improve and how they put all their resources into achieving this goal. So thanks to our efforts, we have taken important steps in this direction this season and we hope to continue doing so in the following years. I am very happy to continue to bring my experience and work ethic from MotoGP to a team that has proven to work very hard and they will continue to do so.”

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Yamaha has extended its contract with Alex Rins, securing his rider partnership for the next two MotoGP seasons. The Spaniard will continue to partner 2021 champion Fabio Quartararo.

Rins is a seasoned rider who has raced for Suzuki and LCR Honda and brings a wealth of experience to Yamaha. His arrival coincides with the Japanese manufacturer’s efforts to revive the struggling YZR-M1. While the 28-year-old rider faces challenges in his first season with the team, his strong record and ability to adapt are seen as key assets in Yamaha’s return to the forefront.

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The pairing of Rins and Quartararo brings a dynamic duo to Yamaha with complementary skills. Quartararo’s raw speed and aggressive riding style complement Rins’ consistency and technical feedback. As Yamaha continues to develop the M1, the contributions of both riders will be vital in closing the performance gap to the leading Ducati, Aprilia and KTM machines.