Yamaha commemorates two riders, Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins, at the close of the 2026 MotoGP season, after they jointly achieved greatness and overcame every obstacle.
Yamaha Motor Racing officially announced that Fabio Quartararo, the 2021 MotoGP world champion from France, and Spanish rider Alex Rins will depart from the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team after the conclusion of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship season. This marks the end of their journey with Yamaha, during which they contributed continuously to the team's performance and MotoGP development projects.
Quartararo joined Yamaha's factory team in 2019 and quickly established himself as one of the most outstanding riders of his era, achieving 11 Grand Prix wins, 32 podium finishes, and making history by winning the premier class world championship in 2021. He brought significant success back to Yamaha and became one of the most successful riders for the team in recent times.
Meanwhile, Rins joined the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team in 2024, bringing with him experience as a multiple Grand Prix winner. Throughout his time with Yamaha, he played a key role in sharing his expertise, developing the YZR-M1 race bike, and continuously advancing Yamaha's MotoGP program.
Paolo Pavesio, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, said:
“Fabio and Alex have been vital to Yamaha’s MotoGP program. We are grateful for their commitment, dedication, and professionalism they have shown to the team over the years.”
“Fabio and Yamaha have shared an eight-year journey. We experienced both great successes and challenging times together. We grew as a team and as a family. Beyond the on-track achievements, the relationships built along the way are invaluable, and Fabio will always remain one of the legendary riders in the Yamaha family.”
“Since joining in 2024, Alex has brought invaluable experience, technical understanding, and dedication to the team. He has played a crucial role in developing the YZR-M1 and pushing Yamaha’s MotoGP project forward.”
“Although saying goodbye after many years working together is not easy, we remain fully committed to working together at every remaining race this season to conclude this journey with the best possible results and create great memories once again.”
Yamaha Motor Racing and both riders will continue to give their full effort throughout the remaining races of the 2026 MotoGP championship, aiming to deliver top performances and continue developing the YZR-M1 race bike to conclude their collaboration perfectly before the season ends.