Isaac Vinales secures Motoxracing Yamaha deal for 2022 WorldSBK season

Isaac Vinales will remain on the WorldSBK grid for a second year after securing a surprise deal with the Motoxracing Yamaha team, as the series confirmed 24 full-time riders for the 2022 season.

The Spaniard - cousin of MotoGP rider Maverick Vinales and a former Moto2 and Moto3 rider - made his WorldSBK debut last season with Orelac VerdNatura Kawasaki team, proving a regular points’ scorer and landing a maiden top ten finish at the season-ending Mandalika finale.

Though he was expected to return to the WorldSSP class after losing his Orelac ride to Oliver Konig, Vinales was present on the official FIM 2022 WorldSBK entry list attached to Motoxracing Yamaha.

The Italian team bolsters the Yamaha R1 ranks to six - together with the factory Pata, GRT and Gil Motorsport entries - and will make its WorldSBK debut in 2022 having previously competed in WorldSSP and WorldSSP 300 Championships.

Vinales’ addition means there will be 24 confirmed riders on the 2022 WorldSBK grid - one more than in 2021 - though one seat remains unfilled at Team Pedercini Racing, which is listed as TBA.

Interestingly, the Italian outfit was expected to run two bikes, including Loris Cresson, but the Belgian was missing from the entry list.

Discussions over its remaining seat is ongoing with British riders Tom Sykes and Leon Haslam among those linked to it.

2022 WorldSBK World Championship Entry List