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Alex Rins confirms Yamaha MotoGP departure: “It’s made me feel pretty bad”
Alex Rins has opened up on finding out he has lost his Yamaha MotoGP ride
Six-time MotoGP race winner Alex Rins has confirmed he has lost his place at Yamaha’s factory team for 2027, amid reports that Ai Ogura will replace him.
Bombshell reports emerged during the break between the US and this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix that Yamaha has signed Ai Ogura for next season.
With Jorge Martin set to join him as Fabio Quartararo’s replacement, the reports all but spelt the end of Alex Rins’ tenure with the Japanese brand.
On Thursday ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Rins confirmed this, revealing he was told during a phone call with team boss Massimo Meregalli that another rider had been signed.
“Eleven days ago, I called Massimo Meregalli, just a normal call,” he said.
“I have a really good relationship with him.
“When I called him, I asked him straight way, do you have any update?
“And he didn’t say anything. So I said, ‘Maio?’ He told me he shouldn’t say anything but he would tell me because he has a good relationship with me.
“He said ‘don’t say anything now, but we have signed the second rider.’”
Ogura wouldn’t comment on the reports when pressed by the media on Thursday at Jerez.
“These have been some tough years”
Rins joined Yamaha in 2024, following an injury-hit season with LCR Honda that still saw him chalk up his sixth MotoGP victory.
He has struggled since jumping on the M1, but had hoped to the new V4 project would be something he could build himself back up around.
“How am I going to feel about Ogura signing with Yamaha?,” he added.
“Well, it’s made me feel pretty bad, to be honest.
“I was comfortable at LCR. I had the option to come to Yamaha, and I thought I’d have more opportunities, but it hasn’t quite turned out that way,”
“These have been some tough years.
“I had a hard time adapting to the inline-four engine, and we bet big on the V4 engine, to be able to build a bike that was a bit more suited to my style, and to take it all the way to the top.
“But it’s not going to happe.”
Rins’ options to stay on the grid beyond this season are slim, with few spaces left on a market that is in a state of limbo right now while the manufacturers agree a new commercial deal with the championship.
The Spaniard made his MotoGP debut in 2017 with Suzuki, winning five times for the brand, including its final race before pulling out at the end of 2022.
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Alex Rins has opened up on finding out he has lost his Yamaha MotoGP ride
Six-time MotoGP race winner Alex Rins has confirmed he has lost his place at Yamaha’s factory team for 2027, amid reports that Ai Ogura will replace him.
Bombshell reports emerged during the break between the US and this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix that Yamaha has signed Ai Ogura for next season.
With Jorge Martin set to join him as Fabio Quartararo’s replacement, the reports all but spelt the end of Alex Rins’ tenure with the Japanese brand.
On Thursday ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Rins confirmed this, revealing he was told during a phone call with team boss Massimo Meregalli that another rider had been signed.
“Eleven days ago, I called Massimo Meregalli, just a normal call,” he said.
“I have a really good relationship with him.
“When I called him, I asked him straight way, do you have any update?
“And he didn’t say anything. So I said, ‘Maio?’ He told me he shouldn’t say anything but he would tell me because he has a good relationship with me.
“He said ‘don’t say anything now, but we have signed the second rider.’”
Ogura wouldn’t comment on the reports when pressed by the media on Thursday at Jerez.
“These have been some tough years”
Rins joined Yamaha in 2024, following an injury-hit season with LCR Honda that still saw him chalk up his sixth MotoGP victory.
He has struggled since jumping on the M1, but had hoped to the new V4 project would be something he could build himself back up around.
“How am I going to feel about Ogura signing with Yamaha?,” he added.
“Well, it’s made me feel pretty bad, to be honest.
“I was comfortable at LCR. I had the option to come to Yamaha, and I thought I’d have more opportunities, but it hasn’t quite turned out that way,”
“These have been some tough years.
“I had a hard time adapting to the inline-four engine, and we bet big on the V4 engine, to be able to build a bike that was a bit more suited to my style, and to take it all the way to the top.
“But it’s not going to happe.”
Rins’ options to stay on the grid beyond this season are slim, with few spaces left on a market that is in a state of limbo right now while the manufacturers agree a new commercial deal with the championship.
The Spaniard made his MotoGP debut in 2017 with Suzuki, winning five times for the brand, including its final race before pulling out at the end of 2022.
Six-time MotoGP race winner Alex Rins has confirmed he has lost his place at Yamaha’s factory team for 2027, amid reports that Ai Ogura will replace him.
Bombshell reports emerged during the break between the US and this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix that Yamaha has signed Ai Ogura for next season.
With Jorge Martin set to join him as Fabio Quartararo’s replacement, the reports all but spelt the end of Alex Rins’ tenure with the Japanese brand.
On Thursday ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Rins confirmed this, revealing he was told during a phone call with team boss Massimo Meregalli that another rider had been signed.
“Eleven days ago, I called Massimo Meregalli, just a normal call,” he said.
“I have a really good relationship with him.
“When I called him, I asked him straight way, do you have any update?
“And he didn’t say anything. So I said, ‘Maio?’ He told me he shouldn’t say anything but he would tell me because he has a good relationship with me.
“He said ‘don’t say anything now, but we have signed the second rider.’”
Ogura wouldn’t comment on the reports when pressed by the media on Thursday at Jerez.
“These have been some tough years”
Rins joined Yamaha in 2024, following an injury-hit season with LCR Honda that still saw him chalk up his sixth MotoGP victory.
He has struggled since jumping on the M1, but had hoped to the new V4 project would be something he could build himself back up around.
“How am I going to feel about Ogura signing with Yamaha?,” he added.
“Well, it’s made me feel pretty bad, to be honest.
“I was comfortable at LCR. I had the option to come to Yamaha, and I thought I’d have more opportunities, but it hasn’t quite turned out that way,”
“These have been some tough years.
“I had a hard time adapting to the inline-four engine, and we bet big on the V4 engine, to be able to build a bike that was a bit more suited to my style, and to take it all the way to the top.
“But it’s not going to happe.”
Rins’ options to stay on the grid beyond this season are slim, with few spaces left on a market that is in a state of limbo right now while the manufacturers agree a new commercial deal with the championship.
The Spaniard made his MotoGP debut in 2017 with Suzuki, winning five times for the brand, including its final race before pulling out at the end of 2022.
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