Maverick Viñales is Aprilia bound for the 2022 MotoGP Championship campaign, it’s finally been announced.
The news everyone has been expecting since the Spaniard called time early on his strained partnership with the Monster Energy Yamaha team back in June, was finally announced this morning. Maverick Vinales is set to partner Aleix Espargaro in the Aprilia Racing factory team for 2022.
A statement from the Noale based outfit expressed the Italian marque’s ‘great pleasure’ in welcoming the 2013 Moto3 Champion on a one-year contract, with an option for renewal. Declaring the signing as ‘another step in the Italian team’s growth and development strategy,’ as the team transitions from a Gresini-run squad into a factory team.
“We are extremely happy to announce that we have signed Maverick Viñales, a very high-level rider and one of the purest talents in the premier category,” Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing CEO announced.
“Our project has now been enriched with the value that Maverick brings - a World Champion who has confirmed his talent as a top rider in MotoGP - at a time of great change.
“After bringing a completely revamped bike to the track and having consistently established ourselves in the group of protagonists, we are also facing a switch in status as a Factory Team now, in order to take Aprilia to success,” he continued.
“We are honoured to be able to make all of our best skills available to Viñales along with our enthusiasm and our passion. I am confident that, like Aleix, he will embrace this extremely high-potential project.
“The arrival of Maverick in no way distances Lorenzo Savadori from the team, as he will remain an integral part of the Aprilia Racing family,” Rivola concluded.
Vinales is currently still under contract with Yamaha until the end of the current season, although the 26-year-old was suspended from competition during the AustrianGP due to ‘unexplained irregular operation’ of this M1 during the Styria race a week before. His immediate future, however, remains unclear with speculation suggesting the services of Cal Crutchlow - currently subbing for the injured Franky Morbidelli at Petronas - may be required for the remaining rounds if the contract is broken before Valencia.
