MotoGP: Garrett Gerloff to replace Franco Morbidelli at Assen

Team GRT Yamaha WorldSBK rider Garrett Gerloff will stand in for Franco Morbidelli during the Dutch GP, taking place on 25-27 June. Yamaha confirmed the news on Wednesday morning, a few hours after Morbidelli injured his left knee.

Gerloff, 25, is currently making an impression in the WorldSBK championship and has just completed testing at Navarra, where he was very fast. It is he who will join Valentino Rossi at the tough Assen track, rather than Toprak Razgatlioglu, who was also in line for the ride but prefers to focus on the production-derived championship.

Gerloff’s words

---

“I’m excited for the opportunity ahead, I’m not someone who runs away from a challenge, so I’m ready to get to the track”, comments the Texan. “It’ll be a new circuit for me, I like trying new tracks, it looks fun, fast and flowing, and really suits my riding style. I’m looking forward to jumping on the Yamaha M1 again and twisting the throttle. We’ll see how things go, but I feel good and would like to thank Yamaha and the team for considering me. It won't be easy, but I'm going to give it my best shot!”

Garrett already rode the M1 during Friday’s sessions at the 2020 Europe GP, when he was called upon to stand in for Valentino Rossi after the Italian tested positive for Covid-19.

Translated by Heather Watson

MotoGP Holland, Valentino Rossi returns to "his" Assen