Maverick Viñales, who is presently fifth in the MotoGP championship standings, will partner nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi at Yamaha, whose contract renewal was already announced in March this year. Moreover, Andrea Iannone will join Suzuki leaving Ducati for the 2017 and 2018 season.
Maverick Viñales, born in Figueres, Spain on 12th January, 1995, made his World Championship debut in 2011 in the 125cc class. His racing career highlights include the victory of the Moto3 World Championship in 2013 as well as three ’Rookie of the Year‘ awards in 2011 (125cc), 2014 (Moto2) and 2015 (MotoGP). He will ride for the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team for 2017 and 2018.
On the other hand, Andrea Iannone was born on 9th August, 1989 in Vasto, Southern Italy. He started racing in the Italian and Spanish Championships in 2004 when he was 15 years old. He moved to the 125 World Championship in 2005, winning four races, before he stepped up to Moto2 in 2010; always finishing in the top three places in the Championship and winning eight races. He moved to MotoGP in 2013, and in 2015 – his third season - secured fifth place overall, recording one pole position and three podiums.
Iannone also revealed he did have an offer to remain with Ducati, but it was not to his liking: “I had the possibility to remain in Ducati but some parts of the contract didn’t satisfy me at 100 per cent. I wanted to change some parts but it wasn’t possible and on the other hand I had a very good opportunity and proposal from Suzuki and for me at the end it’s better to come in this new adventure. But for now I want to focus at 100 per cent in this season.”
Davide Brivio – Team SUZUKI, Team Manager said, “We are happy to have enrolled Andrea in our Team for the next two years. He is one of the top riders in MotoGP and he is also very passionate and motivated; which fits into our racing philosophy. Our technical project is continuously improving since our debut in 2015 and we are working hard to make our GSX-RR very competitive so that it can fight consistently close to top and victory as soon as possible. We wanted a rider that could help Suzuki continue its road to the top. Andrea is a fast rider who has the hunger for success and his riding style could suit our machine’s characteristics, therefore giving us good hopes for a positive partnership. Being in his fourth year in MotoGP he’s also an experienced rider from which the whole team will benefit.”
