MotoGP: Rossi Out, Quartararo In, at Monster Energy Yamaha for 2021

January 29, 2020

Valentino Rossi will be replaced by 2019 rookie sensation Fabio Quartararo at the end of the 2020 season, as the Frenchman switches from the Petronas SRT Yamaha camp to the Factory Monster Energy Yamaha team.

Quartararo will remain a Yamaha rider after an incredible debut season in the premier class, challenging Marquez on a number of occasions, ultimately ending the championship in fifth, two places behind his teammate to be Maverick Vinales, and two places ahead of the departing Valentino Rossi.

After just one victory in the Moto3 and Moto2 classes, Quartararo was given a dream MotoGP ride with the all-new Petronas SRT Yamaha team, who took over as the Satellite Yamaha team from Tech 3.

In his debut season, Quartararo racked up a total of seven podiums, six pole positions, and came close to his debut MotoGP win twice after two final lap battles with Champion Marquez.

Speaking about the Factory move, Quartararo said:

I’m delighted about what my management has achieved in the last few months together with YMC. It was not simple to establish, but now I have a clear plan for the next three years and I’m really happy.

“I want to thank YMC and PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team, who have given me the opportunity to enter the MotoGP class in 2019. I will give my all to do them proud again this year.”

Rossi and Yamaha have agreed to delay negotiations as to whether Rossi will continue with Yamaha into 2021, with a seat now open at Petronas Yamaha, Rossi could join his academy rider Franco Morbidelli in the SRT Yamaha team, although whispers are saying that Petronas could follow the same direction as Repsol Honda have for 2020, bringing in Rossi’s half-brother Luca Marini.

Valentino Rossi’s last MotoGP Podium came at the American round of the 2019 Championship. (Credit: MotoGP)

In a statement released by Monster Energy Yamaha, Valentino Rossi delivered the reasons behind their mutual decision:

For reasons dictated by the riders’ market, Yamaha asked me at the beginning of the year to make a decision regarding my future. Consistent with what I said during the last season, I confirmed that I didn’t want to rush any decision and needed more time. Yamaha has acted accordingly and concluded the ongoing negotiations. It is clear that after the last technical changes and with the arrival of my new crew chief, my first goal is to be competitive this year and to continue my career as a MotoGP rider also in 2021.
Before doing so, I need to have some answers that only the track and the first few races can give me. I’m happy that, should I decide to continue, Yamaha is ready to support me in all respects, giving me a factory-spec bike and a factory contract. In the first tests I will do my best to do a good job together with my team and be ready for the start of the season.

Rossi will aim to return to the front of the MotoGP paddock by brining in former Moto2 crew chief Davide Munoz who leaves Rossi’s SKY VR46 team to join ‘The Doctor’ at Yamaha.

With the signing of Maverick Vinales and quickly followed by Fabio Quartararo, Monster Energy Yamaha are the first team to have their 2021 plans in place, before the pre-season action has begun in Malaysia.