Criville on course for Yamaha GP ride

Former world 500 champion Alex Criville will find out later this week if his career has been saved by a shock move to Yamaha.

The Spaniard appeared to be heading for enforced retirement when he was dropped from Honda’s factory team at the end of the season, but talks about a switch to the Yamaha outfit run by Luis D’Antin are back on.

Criville could be confirmed as Norick Abe’s new team-mate as early as Thursday if sponsorship negotiations with Repsol are concluded.

Criville, who has struggled to recapture the form that took him to the 1999 world 500 crown, is understood to be ready to sign a one-year contract with the option of a second term depending on his results in 2002.