Viñales to partner Rossi next season at Yamaha

Maverick Viñales has been confirmed at Valentino Rossi’s partner for the next two years at Movistar Yamaha, with the team confirming the news only minutes after his Suzuki squad announced that the Spaniard would not be remaining with them for 2017.

The news has been speculated at for weeks, with the Le Mans podium finisher known to have options both to stay and to make the switch. He has admitted in recent weeks that it would be the ‘hardest decision of his life’ – but it looks like that choice is now made.

Confirming the news in a brief press statement, Viñales will be in attendance at this afternoon’s press conference, alongside Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso, to discuss their respective new contracts.