Movistar Yamaha’s Maverick Viñales
Movistar Yamaha has announced that Maverick Viñales will be the sole Factory Yamaha rider at Misano next weekend. With Valentino Rossi recovering from surgery on his broken leg, his factory seat is also likely to be available at the following round in Aragon three weeks from now.
We wouldn’t be surprised to see a stand-in for Rossi at Aragon. Misano came on too quickly after Rossi’s injury, and Yamaha may have preferred to keep his seat empty at his home track in Italy. At Aragon, expect to see Yamaha test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga, or, perhaps, WSB Yamaha pilot Alex Lowes, who has previously competed at the MotoGP level.
Yamaha will be focusing all of its efforts on Maverick Viñales, who has a genuine shot at this year’s championship. Viñales is currently just 13 points from championship points leader Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) with six races still remaining. Even if Rossi only misses two rounds, he will have lost his shot at another title this year.
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I thought of US riders, as Josh Hayes has done it before and was respectable even if a rain race..
Cameron Beaubeai had a major dislocation and surgery on his shoulder from a tank slapper, so he’s out. ummmm… HEY, what about Colin Edwards… one last TEXAS Yehah!
I thought that they HAD to replace a guy to keep the grid full…
Casey Stoner can take Rossi’s place…if Honda agrees ha ha
Stoner works for Ducati, not Honda.
This bums me out. I thought Rossi would finish the season strong. I agree with Yamaha’s decision. Think if one of the replacements makes a strong podium finish? It is better to wait a week, this is Italy. …but I have an idea.
Let Folger and Zarco race for the seat. Which ever brings home the most points get a factory effort.
I like this idea. Knew Rossi wouldn’t be back as soon as he hoped.
Suddenly I’m overcome with sadness about Rossi’s recent crash and injury. Maybe listening to Toto IV via Tidal lossless streaming (oh yeah, Steve Lukather’s guitar is sweet) increases my sense of nostalgia. His age increases the gravity of time passing at this stage of his racing career.
We’re heartened by VR’s apparent upbeat attitude in his public statement after surgery. Still though, it’s clear he has a limited number of arrows remaining in his glorious quiver.
Our prayers and well wishes go with you, Valentino.
Man. I still think about Nicky filling in an empty seat. Still sux.
That would have been awesome. He is missed…
You’d think Yamaha would have someone’s butt in that seat just to gather points for the Manufacturer’s championship if nothing else.
interesting, but it makes sense from Yamaha’s perspective.