YAMAHA SUSPENDS VINALES

Yamaha has suspended Maverick Vinales and withdrawn his entry for this weekends Austrian MotoGP event.

In a shock announcement, the team reported that Spanish rider will not take part in this weekends running after “unexplained irregular operation of the motorcycle by the rider” during last weekends Styria MotoGP race.

Vinales was reportedly frustrated with the performance of the bike following the red flag, where he was forced to restart the race from pitlane. With suggestions that he was trying the blow up the engine after ongoing issues throughout the weekend.

The suspension follows tension between the team and the rider that has seen Vinales already granted a release from his contract at the end of the season.

“Yamaha regrets to announce that Maverick Vinales’ entry to this weekend‘s Austrian MotoGP event has been withdrawn by the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team.” read a statement from the team.

“The absence follows the suspension of the rider by Yamaha due to the unexplained irregular operation of the motorcycle by the rider during last weekend‘s Styria MotoGP race.”

“Yamaha‘s decision follows an in-depth analysis of telemetry and data over the last days.”

“Yamaha‘s conclusion is that the rider‘s actions could have potentially caused significant damage to the engine of his YZR-M1 bike which could have caused serious risks to the rider himself and possibly posed a danger to all other riders in the MotoGP race.”

“The rider will not be replaced at the Austrian GP.”

“Decisions regarding the future races will be taken after a more detailed analysis of the situation and further discussions between Yamaha and the rider.”

The decision leaves championship leader Fabio Quartararo as the sole Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP entry for this weekend.

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