December 14, 2024
Yamaha sets eyes on its next young MotoGP prospect

As Motorsport.com has figured out, the Spaniard fulfilled with Lin Jarvis, director of Yamaha, on the Saturday of the very last race weekend of previous period in Valencia.

In that conference, Jarvis outlined his curiosity in incorporating him into its construction in the in close proximity to long run.

At initial, it appeared the Japanese maker was wondering of Lopez as a possible alternative for Franco Morbidelli at the factory squad, who finished his worst year in MotoGP in 2022 with just 42 factors scored previous time.

Inspite of the Valentino Rossi protege’s poor overall performance, the company’s top management made the decision to respect the deal signed with him, which expires at the conclude of 2023, and give him a single a lot more yr to react.

In any circumstance, the opposition on the current MotoGP grid discourages the marketing of a Moto2 rider instantly to an official staff.

That reinforces Yamaha’s intention to make space for Lopez the moment it has been in a position to close the deal that would allow it to get back the satellite group it has shed for 2023, with the departure of RNF to Aprilia.

The most reasonable solution in this regard is an settlement among Yamaha and VR46, whilst Valentino Rossi’s crew is contracted to Ducati as a result of to the stop of 2024.

Lopez was a single of the standout performers of the 2022 Moto2 period. Owning raced in only four grands prix in 2021 and remaining with no a bicycle for 2022, Lopez was provided a Pace Up ride by Luca Boscoscuro when it parted strategies with Romano Fenati partway by means of the campaign.

Alonso Lopez, +Ego Speed Up

Alonso Lopez, +Ego Pace Up

Image by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos

Lopez scored a maiden podium at Silverstone ahead of having the to start with of two victories in 2022 at Misano, the 2nd coming in Australia.

Inspite of becoming ready to get element in only 14 races, Lopez completed eighth in the all round details desk, only 9.5 details at the rear of Celestino Vietti in seventh.

His breakthrough piqued the desire of Jarvis, who squandered no time: “We all know how this world is effective.

“My task is also to be mindful of the possibilities provided by the marketplace. And that applies to riders, engineers and so on. In the circumstance of racers, I imagine I can make a good X-ray of the selections readily available,” Jarvis informed Motorsport.com.

Yamaha has appreciated substantially good results with youthful signings in MotoGP, with the Japanese manufacturer snaring Jorge Lorenzo to a offer two yrs before he would make his debut with the manufacturing unit squad in 2008 and go on to win a few earth titles with the brand.

Additional recently, it loved podium achievements with Fabio Quartararo in 2019 at Petronas SRT just before he was in the long run promoted to the manufacturing unit squad in 2021, when he received the championship.