Alex Rins has confirmed his departure from the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team at the conclusion of the 2026 season, with Ai Ogura set to replace him for 2027.
The announcement, revealed openly by the Spanish rider himself during media interactions in Jerez, marks the end of a challenging yet hopeful partnership with the Japanese manufacturer that began in 2024 after his stint with LCR Honda.
Despite initial optimism surrounding Yamaha’s transition to a new V4 engine project which Rins tested and found somewhat promising despite its evident limitations, the team has opted for a fresh lineup starting in 2027 MotoGP, leaving the 30-year-old to contemplate his next move in the premier class.
Rins revealed he got the news during a candid phone call with Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli who confided the factory outfit has already secured its second rider for the future.
“Eleven days ago, I called Massimo Meregalli, just a normal call,” the six-time Grand Prix race winner said. “I have a really good relationship with him. When I called him, I asked him straight way, do you have any update?
“And he didn’t say anything. So I said, ‘Maio?’ 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.’”
Reports reveal that Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team has opted to sign Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura to team up with Aprilia’s Jorge Martin who is poised to replace Fabio Quartararo, as the latter switches to Honda.
Alex Rins has struggled to deliver results since fracturing his right tibia and fibula at Mugello in 2023 with LCR Honda and is still not fully recovered.
Yet, true to his character forged through years of battling adversity, Rins pledged to deliver 100% effort over the remaining 18 races of the 2026 campaign, emphasizing that he remains the same competitor who triumphed on Suzuki and Honda machinery.
“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. 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.”
Rins is yet to contemplate on his next move with chances of securing a 2027 MotoGP seat slim at best.
“Right now I don’t know [what my options are]. The only option that I have is go full throttle on track,“ he said. “As you can imagine, sorry, because it’s the same – with a not-really performing bike, you cannot be on the top.
“So… you need to ride in your own and you need to give your best, and let’s see. We are going to work hard.“
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