MotoGP: Are Yamaha and Jorge Lorenzo heading for a divorce?

Yamaha has once again snubbed Jorge Lorenzo as an option as a replacement for Valentino Rossi.

Yamaha has once again pushed test rider, Jorge Lorenzo, to the side, opting for Garrett Gerloff (which is a fantastic choice may we add) to ride for them as a replacement for Valentino Rossi who tested positive for COVID-19 before the Aragon doubleheader.

When it was announced that Valentino Rossi had tested positive for COVID-19, all eyes turned to Jorge Lorenzo who won three premier class MotoGP titles for Yamaha in 2010, 2012 and 2015 and remains their only champion since Valentino Rossi in 2009, he is also the only rider aside from Valentino Rossi to win a championship on the Yamaha YZR-M1. However, for the two Aragon rounds, Yamaha decided not to replace Rossi, instead leaving his side of the garage unattended to.

Since signing for Yamaha, Jorge Lorenzo has ridden the M1 just four times over two tests, with the second day of the Portimao test ending early due to Yamaha engineers being required at Le Mans due to multiple team staff testing positive for COVID-19.

Lorenzo has confirmed that he and Yamaha had a 15-16 day test plan with a Catalunya wildcard in place, but COVID-19 disrupted this entire programme, however since MotoGP has returned and other teams have resumed their test programmes, Yamaha have not and Lorenzo has not had much track time at all. This has even caused confusion with Fabio Quartararo and Valentino Rossi who are unsure as to why Yamaha were not using him.

If Rossi tests positive for COVID-19 again, he will be replaced, but not by Lorenzo, but by Garrett Gerloff, GRT Yamaha WSBK rider who has scored podiums as a rookie in the class and is incredibly fast, as much as this is a highly popular decision with is, the decision to not employ Jorge Lorenzo who is on their payroll is a confusing one.

This follows rumours of Lorenzo heading over to the Aprilia set up as their test rider with Lorenzo himself confirming he would like to do so.

Yamaha have hired Jonas Folger, sacked him, replaced him with Lorenzo who also is looking like he will be sacked and replaced with Andrea Dovizioso, so we are looking forward to writing about Dovi being sacked again this time next year for another test rider.

Featured image – www.motogp.com