The Spanish rider, Maverick Viñales, was suspended by the factory Yamaha MotoGP team after the first Austrian round for venting his frustration by trying to blow the engine in his M1 machine in the closing laps of the race, will not return to the squad for the remainder of the season.

Viñales Out Of Yamaha With Immediate Effect

Maverick Viñales will not return to the factory Yamaha team to see out the remainder of the season. He and Yamaha had already agreed to part ways at the end of the season, cutting short his two year contract, but his actions at the first Austrian MotoGP round, where he deliberately tried to blow up the engine of his bike in frustration, have brought matters to a head.

A statement by team director Lin Jarvis suggested the Viñales had reneged on a commitment to see out the season professionally following the decision to break contract at the end of the year.

The statement reads as follows:

“In Assen Yamaha and Viñales already announced the mutual decision to cut short their original 2021-2022 programme and to finish it at the end of 2021.

“A commitment was made by both rider and team to continue to the end of the current season, with the team guaranteeing its full support and the rider giving his maximum efforts so that we could finish the project 'in style'.

“Regretfully at the Styrian GP the race did not go well or end well and consequently after deep consideration by both parties, the mutual decision was reached that it would be better for both parties if we end the partnership earlier.

“The early separation will release the rider to be free to follow his chosen future direction and will also permit the team to focus its efforts on the remaining races of the 2021 season with a replacement rider – yet to be determined.

“I would like to express Yamaha‘s sincere gratitude to Maverick. Yamaha will continue to cherish the good memories and appreciate the work both parties put into the 4.5 years spent together that brought us 8 race victories, 24 podiums, and two third places in the 2017 and 2019 overall rider standings. We wish Maverick all the very best in his future endeavours.”

The replacement rider looks likely to be Cal Crutchlow, currently standing in for injured Franco Morbidelli at Petronas Yamaha. Crutchlow is the contracted test rider for Yamaha.

Viñales was lying seventh in the championship standings so a shot at the title was unlikely but the move could have ramifications for Yamaha in the constructors' championship, where they are engaged in a fierce battle with Ducati.

Viñales already has a contract to ride with Aprilia for 2022.