Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe
Race winner Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Autosport Plus
Interview

The Rossi replacement who’s become the MotoGP leader Yamaha needed

It's been six years since Jorge Lorenzo gave Yamaha its last MotoGP title in 2015. Since his departure at the end of 2016, Yamaha's form has been inconsistent but it has at last found a new talisman to return it to the top spot in the form of a precociously talented Frenchman who currently leads the standings

Based on the outcome of the last four years, it wouldn’t be unfair to say that Yamaha had been left without a true leader since Jorge Lorenzo took his three-time MotoGP title-winning talent to Ducati back in 2017.

Maverick Vinales, the young star who blazed a trail from Moto3 champion in 2013 through a single year in Moto2 in 2014 and to MotoGP race winner with Suzuki by 2016, was meant to be the plug-in-and-play replacement for Lorenzo.

Previous article Portimao replaces Australian GP on 2021 MotoGP calendar
Next article Moto2 riders who turned down Aprilia MotoGP ride ‘won’t be happy' - Espargaro

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe