The Yamaha Factory Racing team has confirmed it is parting company with Valentino Rossi at the end of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship after announcing Fabio Quartararo alongside Maverick Vinales for the 2021 MotoGP season.
In a statement from the team, Yamaha confirms it has taken up its option on the young Frenchman, leaving no place for Rossi in the team with which he has won four MotoGP World Championships.
The Italian confirms he is yet to make a decision on his future beyond the 2020 season, revealing he will make a call on whether to retire from the sport or take up a spot in the satellite Petronas SRT Yamaha team.
A decision will ultimately be made in the middle of the year.
Yamaha confirms that should Rossi wish to continue racing in MotoGP next season he will still be racing a factory-specification Yamaha M1
Full statement from Yamaha
“Grand Prix racing legend Valentino Rossi will complete his astounding 15-year run with the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team at the end of the 2020 season.
“Following discussions between Yamaha and Rossi, the Italian will take until mid-2020 to make the final call whether he will remain an active rider in the MotoGP World Championship in 2021. This time frame was requested by Rossi to evaluate his competitive speed compared to the MotoGP grid only after completing the first seven or eight races of 2020.
“Should Rossi decide to continue as a MotoGP rider in 2021, Yamaha assures Rossi of the availability of a Factory-spec YZR-M1 bike and full Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. engineering support.
“Irrespective of the decisions for the future, Yamaha will provide full support and total focus for the 2020 season as Rossi commences his 25th motorcycle Grand Prix racing World Championship, his 21st season in the premier class, and his 15th year with Yamaha."
