Yamaha WSB pilot Garrett Gerloff has been called up this weekend to race in the Assen MotoGP in place of the injured Franco Morbidelli. Morbidelli injured his knee during training at Valentino Rossi’s ranch Tuesday. We are not aware of the prognosis for when Morbidelli will return.
Gerloff won two MotoAmerica Supersport championships before entering the world stage to contest the WSB series last year. Here is a press release from the Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team:
PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team will welcome American Garrett Gerloff to the squad for this weekend’s DutchGP in Assen as a stand-in for the injured Franco Morbidelli.
Franco sustained an injury to his left knee yesterday and is currently undergoing medical assessment and treatment. 25 year-old Gerloff is currently a GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team rider. This will be Gerloff’s first time in Assen but he has previously ridden the Yamaha YZR-M1 when he substituted for Valentino Rossi at the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team in the European GP practice sessions at Valencia last year.
Razlan Razali, Team Principal, PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team
Everyone has had to move very quickly after the news late yesterday that Franco would not be able to race this weekend and we give our thanks to Yamaha for facilitating this. We’re very excited to welcome Garrett to the team this weekend and realise that it’s a tough task to come in at late notice but we are confident that he will be able to do a good job. We wish Franco all the best for his recovery and hope to welcome him back to the track after the summer break.
Garrett Gerloff, PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team
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. 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!
Go Garrett!
17th. Made the goal to finish the race!
He should have fun. I lived in NL for two years. The Dutch really like to party. I bought a Ducati from a guy that lives near Assen.
NL and Belgium has lots of super charming towns and great beer.
“I’m looking forward to jumping on the Yamaha M1 again and twisting the throttle.”
Understatement of the year.
I bet you are, my son. I bet you are.
Go with fire.
Great to see an American in the Frey. But this just brings up memories of Ben Spies amazing title run And title championship win . He won it On a bike that know has won it on in some time and won it on tracks he hadn’t seen . What he did that year was spectacular.
go get ’em!!! do you think he will be told to NOT beat rossi?
Would be amazing if he were faster than Rossi. In addition to his lack of experience on the M1, this will be his first time at Assen.
Indeed. Even his home track could feel foreign for his first ride on a GP bike. An amazing opportunity (surprised there wasn’t a GP rider available..). I hope he does well.
Well, certainly Crutchlow would have been available and is already part of the Yamaha camp. Perhaps Yamaha is vetting potential talent for Rossi’s and probably even Vinales’ seat?
That’s an interesting idea and yeah, Vinales has to be worried about his job by now. Nobody has an explanation, at least not one they’re willing to say out loud.
I wonder how Dovi would get along with the Yamaha?
Dovi rode a Yamaha ages ago with Tech 3 and did well on it. A very different bike back then most certainly, but it seems that the Yamaha DNA that rewards a certain riding style has been a part of every package since the mid-2000’s. I’m sure he’d go quite well on it. In any case, I bet Dovi would have also been available to fill in for Franco (and enthusiastic to do so) and yet, I doubt his phone rang. Between his age, the salary he wants, and with the pipeline of young talent out there, I can’t imagine Dovi being of much interest to any team other than Aprilia who would benefit from his experience developing a bike.
he’s a gp test rider along with jorge lorenzo last year…
Not a test rider. He rode a single Friday practice in place of Rossi last year.
guess i read it too fast. i still think he can take rossi.