Rins disappointed about Yamaha exit: “Surprising after three races”

– The change is not yet officially confirmed, but in the paddock, it is considered a done deal: Ai Ogura is set to move to Yamaha in 2027 and become Jorge Martin’s teammate there. For Alex Rins, this means the end at the factory team.

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On Thursday in Jerez, the Spaniard made no secret of how much this development affects him. “As you can imagine, I’m not in a really good moment because of this news,” Rins openly says. He has been racing in MotoGP since 2017, and since 2024, he has been part of the Yamaha factory team.

Looking back, the 30-year-old emphasizes that the move to Yamaha was once a conscious decision based on conviction: He felt comfortable at LCR-Honda, “but Yamaha came with an offer, and I accepted it because I thought we could achieve great things together.”

Rins felt more comfortable on V4 Yamaha

Reality, however, proved to be more complicated. Especially the switch to the inline-four engine, which Yamaha used until 2025, caused him difficulties.

“When I got on the bike with the inline-four engine, I struggled a bit,” Rins explains. He only gained hope with the announced V4 project: new technical perspectives gave him the feeling of getting real chances again. Although the new motorcycle also had “some limitations,” overall, he felt somewhat more comfortable on it.

Photo gallery: Contract durations of current MotoGP riders

The fact that Yamaha nevertheless made an early decision about the future causes incomprehension for the Spaniard. “If you know a bit about motorcycles, it’s hard to understand,” said the six-time MotoGP winner.

Too early rider decision by Yamaha?

Especially with a completely new project, the question arises: “How can you decide the future after only three races, with a bike that is not yet at 100 percent?”

At the same time, Rins emphasizes that he has nothing to reproach himself for. Since the first test, he has “given everything,” and it is “surprising” that facts were already created after just a few races. Physically, he also sees himself as unrestricted: after his injuries, he is fully recovered, “the leg reacts 100 percent.”

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He attributes the current problems more to the material. “The bike still has limitations at the moment. All four riders are at the back. As long as no improvements come, we cannot perform better,” explains the Yamaha rider.

How Rins approaches the rest of the season

Despite the disappointment, he wants to remain professional. “I will be 100 percent committed,” promises the Spaniard and adds: “I am a very professional rider.” Should he receive new parts for testing, he will “give the best possible feedback.” The crucial thing now is not “to put people in their place,” but “to put the motorcycle in the right place.”

Photo gallery: The career highlights of Alex Rins

Rins also describes exactly how the separation happened: He only found out about it indirectly. Eleven days earlier, he had spoken on the phone with team manager Massimo Meregalli. Upon his direct inquiry, Meregalli finally confirmed that the second rider had already been signed, without, however, naming names.

For the still young 2026 season, Rins’ goal remains clear: maximum performance on the track. “The only option I have is to go full throttle,” says the 30-year-old.

No future planned in the Superbike World Championship

With a non-competitive motorcycle, the fight for the top is difficult, “but you have to give your best and see what happens.” Even if his days at Yamaha are numbered, for him: “There are still 18, 19 races ahead of us.”

His future is open. Rins himself does not want to commit but emphasizes that he wants to remain in MotoGP: “I still have a lot of potential in this championship.” A move to the Superbike World Championship, as many MotoGP riders without a seat make, is currently not a concrete topic for him.

Regardless of the difficult sporting situation, the Spaniard remains combative – and hungry for success: “I am the same Alex who won with Suzuki and Honda,” he says.

Read more MotoGP 2026 live: The weekend in Jerez on free-to-air TV and stream