MotoGP’s most promising young star Maverick Viñales reportedly set to fill Lorenzo’s vacant seat at Yamaha in 2017.
With defending world champion Jorge Lorenzo’s exit for Ducati by season’s end, speculation on who will take his empty seat in the Movistar Yamaha Factory Team was rife in recent weeks. Now, speculations are being put to rest following reports that the team has struck a deal with Maverick Viñales yo join next year.
21-year-old Viñales is widely regarded as MotoGP’s ‘next big thing’ following his top form in the factory-back Team Ecstar Suzuki outfit. The Spanish youngster made his MotoGP debut with the S-badge’s team last year and outraced his more experienced teammate, Aleix Espargaro, on a number of occasions. (Find out more about Viñales in our brief interview with him by clicking here)
The young Spaniard’s best performance came more recently in the French GP where he finished third and notched his maiden podium finish in the premier class. Despite dropping his previous manager Aki Ajo recently, it appears that Yamaha were indeed set to welcome him in their garage anyways as Lorenzo’s replacement.
Both Yamaha and Viñales’ representatives haven’t said anything officially just yet, but sources close to the matter indicate that the an official announcement will be made just before this weekend’s Italian GP.
Viñales’ prospects with Yamaha don’t look too bad as the youngster will get to race alongside his childhood hero Valentino Rossi. We’l have more on this as soon as it is made official.
Source: Asphaltandrubber