Alex Rins to Monster Energy Yamaha for 2024
Rennie Scaysbrook | August 2, 2023
Alex Rins will move to the factory Monster Energy Yamaha squad in MotoGP after a single season on the LCR Honda.
Rins, who is still recovering from a double tibia and fibula leg break suffered at the Italian MotoGP at Mugello, will replace the outgoing Franco Morbidelli, the Italian who has struggled for form since his own leg injury suffered in a training accident in 2021.
Rins took a surprise win in on the LCR Honda at the 2023 Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas this year to add to the four victories he amassed while riding for the now defunct factory Suzuki team, and the switch to Honda means he now has the chance to be the first rider in history to win a premier class race on three separate machines—unless Jack Miller or Maverick Vinales beat him to it.
Rins, seen here after his victory at CoTA earlier this year, is Yamaha-bound for 2024.
“We are delighted that Alex is joining the Yamaha line-up, and we warmly welcome him to the Yamaha MotoGP group,” said Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director, Lin Jarvis.
“We expect Alex to be a great asset. He has vast experience as a MotoGP rider and is known to be a natural talent and a multi-time MotoGP class race winner. He already has experience with two other MotoGP manufacturers and has ridden bikes with similar characteristics to the YZR-M1, which should help him adapt quickly to our bike. His win in COTA earlier this year underlines his speed, hunger, and determination to succeed.
“Alex has been away from the MotoGP paddock for a while due to the injury he sustained at Mugello, but we are confident that he should be fully recovered and up to speed for the 2024 season. We are really looking forward to working with him and believe that he will collaborate well with Fabio and enhance the total performance of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team.”
Outgoing Franco Morbidelli turned down a possible Yamaha switch to WorldSBK in place of the departing Toprak Razgatlioglu and is likely to land in either the Gresini or VR46 Ducati squads for 2024.
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