Spaniard told by Massimo Meregalli that Yamaha has already “signed the second rider”, leaving him without a 2027 seat
Alex Rins has confirmed he will not be part of Yamaha’s factory MotoGP line-up for 2027, after learning in a phone call with team boss Massimo Meregalli that the manufacturer has already locked in another rider.
The 30-year-old Spaniard has raced full-time in the MotoGP premier class since 2017, debuting with Suzuki and staying there until the end of 2022 before a one-season spell at LCR Honda. He joined Yamaha’s factory team in 2024, following an injury-hit year at LCR that still delivered his sixth MotoGP win, at the Circuit of the Americas in 2023.
Speaking ahead of his home Grand Prix at Jerez, Rins explained how the news reached him. “11 days ago, I called Massimo Meregalli, just a normal call. I have a really good relationship with him,” said Rins. “And when I called him, I asked him straight away ‘Do you have any update? He told me he shouldn’t say anything but he would tell me because he has a good relationship with me. He said ‘don’t say anything now, but we have signed the second rider’. That’s it. I tried to ask who, but he didn’t say, as normal.”
Rins admitted the situation has hit hard, particularly after he believed Yamaha’s future direction could play to his strengths. “I’m not in a really good moment, because of this news,” said Rins. “But you know, when I was in LCR I was feeling so good and Yamaha came, made me an offer, and I went for it because I thought we could do great things together. “Since I got on the inline four I’ve been struggling a bit, that’s reality, but then when they started to explain the new project of the V4 I was feeling quite good because I had new opportunities. “As soon as I tried the bike, it has some limitations – as everyone can see – but yeah I felt a bit better than with the inline four.”
The reports circulating during the break between the US round and the Spanish Grand Prix point to Trackhouse Aprilia rider Ai Ogura as Rins’ replacement. Ogura, 25, has impressed early in 2026, with two top-five finishes from the first three grands prix. Rins was asked directly how those rumours made him feel. “How am I going to feel about Ogura signing with Yamaha?,” he added. “Well, it’s made me feel pretty bad, to be honest. “I was comfortable at LCR. I had the option to come to Yamaha, and I thought I’d have more opportunities, but it hasn’t quite turned out that way,”
Rins also pointed to the broader context of his recent career and Yamaha’s technical direction. “These have been some tough years. “I had a hard time adapting to the inline-four engine, and we bet big on the V4 engine, to be able to build a bike that was a bit more suited to my style, and to take it all the way to the top. “But it’s not going to happen.”
Even so, Rins insists he will finish the season at full intensity, with other MotoGP rides still potentially available for 2027. “But they took a decision, so I need to respect it. I will be giving 100 percent, I’m the same Alex who won with the Suzuki or the Honda, and there are still 18 races in front of us. “So we’re going to go with everything.”
With Fabio Quartararo also widely linked to a move away and other riders being discussed for Yamaha’s future plans, the brand could be looking at a completely new rider line-up by 2027. For Rins, that leaves an uncertain market with limited seats available, and he has indicated he is not looking at a switch to WorldSBK, believing he still belongs in MotoGP.
MotoGP continues this weekend with the Grand Prix of Spain at Jerez from April 24 to 27.
