Image: Supplied.

The signing of Alex Rins has been officially confirmed at Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP for 2024, the Spaniard to replace Franco Morbidelli alongside Fabio Quartararo.

Rins’ deal follows the announcement of Morbidelli’s exit from the team come the end of this season, and will see current LCR Honda rider Rins switch to the YZR-M1 within the factory organisation.

“We are delighted that Alex is joining the Yamaha line-up and we warmly welcome him to the Yamaha MotoGP group,” said Lin Jarvis, managing director, Yamaha Racing. “We expect Alex to be a great asset. He has vast experience as a MotoGP rider and is known to be a natural talent and a multi-time MotoGP class race winner.

“He already has experience with two other MotoGP manufacturers and has ridden bikes with similar characteristics to the YZR-M1, which should help him adapt quickly to our bike. His win in COTA earlier this year underlines his speed, hunger and determination to succeed.

“Alex has been away from the MotoGP paddock for a while due to the injury he sustained at Mugello, but we are confident that he should be fully recovered and up to speed for the 2024 season. We are really looking forward to working with him and believe that he will collaborate well with Fabio and enhance the total performance of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team.”

The vastly experienced Rins has a number of premier-class and world championship race victories – six in MotoGP, four in Moto2 and eight in Moto3 for 18 in total – to his credit, his latest top step success coming at Circuit of the America’s (COTA) earlier this year.

Rins is currently sidelined with a leg injury sustained in the sprint race at Mugello, fighting to be fit for an anticipated return with the LCR Honda team in the coming races.