SSP300: the Viñales Racing Team and Yamaha split

The collaboration between Yamaha and the Viñales Racing Team, headed up by Angel Viñales, has come to an end with the recent Czech round. The team, which makes its debut in the Supersport 300 championship this season, has decided not to continue with the R3 bikes, in agreement with the Japanese manufacturer, after a disappointing first half of the season.

The team has not yet confirmed which bike it will provide to riders Kevin Sabatucci and Dean Berta Viñales for the rest of the year, although a move to the competitive Kawasaki Ninja 400 seems most likely.

Another farewell between Yamaha and the Viñales family

As well as the lack of performance of the Yamaha R3 bikes prepared by YART, another reason for this sudden split could have to do with Maverick Viñales’ departure from Yamaha at the end of the MotoGP season, the Spaniard likely to move to the Aprilia team.

We’ll have to wait almost a month to find out which bike Sabatucci and Viñales will be riding though, as the Supersport 300 class will not compete at Navarra and will be back on track in September for the French round at Magny Cours.

Translated by Heather Watson

MotoGP, official: Maverick Viñales to leave Yamaha at the end of 2021