Yamaha confirms Quartararo, Rins split after 2026 MotoGP season
Yamaha has just announced that it will part ways with factory riders Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins at the end of the 2026 MotoGP season, closing one of the manufacturer’s most memorable chapters in the premier class.
The Japanese marque did not reveal where Quartararo and Rins are headed next. However, Quartararo has been heavily linked with a move to Honda in recent months, while Yamaha is expected to usher in a younger rider lineup under MotoGP’s new technical regulations in 2027.
For Quartararo, the split ends an eight-year partnership that began in 2019. The Frenchman became the face of Yamaha’s MotoGP program, winning the 2021 championship along with 11 race victories and 32 podium finishes. Even as the YZR-M1 lost ground to its European rivals, Quartararo remained the rider carrying Yamaha’s hopes at the front of the field.
Rins joined the factory team in 2024 following stints with Suzuki and Honda. Although the results did not always reflect it, Yamaha credited the Spaniard for helping develop the YZR-M1 during one of the most demanding rebuilding phases in the team’s recent history.
“Fabio and Álex have both played an important role in Yamaha’s MotoGP project, and we are very grateful for their efforts, dedication, and collaboration over the years,” says Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director, Paolo Pavesio.
Pavesio called Quartararo “one of the true legends of Yamaha MotoGP” and thanked Rins for the experience and technical feedback he brought to the development of the bike.
Yamaha added that both riders remain fully committed to finishing the 2026 season on a high before they go their separate ways.
