Alex Rins signs with Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP
Yamaha have confirmed their MotoGP rider lineup for 2024, with Alex Rins to join 2021 World Champion Fabio Quartararo on a one-year deal. The experienced Spaniard will replace Franco Morbidelli, who departs after two and a half seasons with the factory team.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP will be Rins’s third team in the premier class, following a six-year stint with Team Suzuki Ecstar and one year (of a two-year deal) with LCR Honda. The 27-year-old from Barcelona has been in the GP paddock since 2012, spending three years in Moto3 before stepping up to Moto2 in 2015, then MotoGP in 2017.
In the premier class, Rins has achieved six race wins at time of writing, most recently at the Grand Prix of the Americas in April.
While Rins is an undeniable talent, injury has often prevented him from achieving more accolades. The Spaniard’s most recent injury was a fractured right leg, suffered in the Tissot Sprint at the Italian GP. Initially expected to return for the Catalunya round in September, a second surgery means Rins had no definite return date at time of writing.
Regardless of his injury history, Rins has been described by Yamaha as a fully-qualified and welcome member of their team for 2024.
“We are delighted that Alex is joining the Yamaha line-up, and we warmly welcome him to the Yamaha MotoGP group,” said Lin Jarvis, Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing.
“We expect Alex to be a great asset. He has vast experience as a MotoGP rider and is known to be a natural talent and a multi-time MotoGP race winner. He already has experience with two other MotoGP manufacturers and has ridden bikes with similar characteristics to the YZR-M1, which should help him adapt quickly to our bike.
“We are really looking forward to working with him and believe that he will collaborate well with Fabio and enhance the total performance of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team.”
Franco Morbidelli, who Rins replaces, did not have a ride locked in for the 2024 season at time of writing, but it seems likely he’ll join either Mooney VR46 Racing Team or Pramac Racing.
