Yamaha won’t allow Fabio Quartararo to stay with Petronas SRT in 2021

Yamaha Factory team manager Massimo Meregalli insists all agreements made with Fabio Quartararo for the 2021 MotoGP World Championship season will stand even if the 2020 season doesn’t go ahead.

Last week Petonas SRT Yamaha boss Razlan Razali speculated he’d still have a claim over Quartararo’s services if the 2020 season cannot begin because of the coronavirus pandemic, arguing his deal for this should carry over to next year.

Only four riders had agreed deals for the 2021 MotoGP campaign prior to the start of the season being postponed, but while Maverick Vinales (Yamaha), Marc Marquez (Honda) and Tito Rabat (Avintia) would remain where they are, Quartararo is set to step up from Petronas SRT to the Yamaha Factory team.

As such, Razali believes that if no racing can take place in 2020, the Frenchman’s deal should be deferred for 2021 before he moves on ahead of the 2022 season.

However, Yamaha boss Meregalli doesn’t agree, saying all contracts stand as they are written.

“No [it is not possible]. I read it too and I don't want to say that it is a meaningless idea but if the 2020 season ends now, then 2021 will start as it is written that it should start."

The claim on Quartararo isn’t the only crossed word seemingly occurring between Yamaha and its satellite team, with Razali also saying no talks have taken place between the two parties about taking on Rossi for 2021 if he chooses to continue.

While Meregalli expects Rossi to continue in 2021, he intimates this remains the plan and says it is up to Petronas SRT to give the Italian a timescale on making a decision.

“If he has to decide based on what his passion is, I feel like saying that he will definitely race again next year. It is a decision that’s down to him, but it will certainly not be easy.

"[The time to make a decision] is a matter for Petronas, but we are ready for any decision that Vale makes."