Image: Supplied.

Frenchman Fabio Quartararo will replace Valentino Rossi at Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing from 2021, the 20-year-old signing a two-year deal that will see him line-up alongside Maverick Vinales.

Quartararo had a breakout debut season in 2019 with Petronas Yamaha SRT, earning Rookie of the Year honours and topping the Independent Rider’s Championship.

“I‘m delighted about what my management has achieved in the last few months together with YMC,” said Quartararo. “It was not simple to establish, but now I have a clear plan for the next three years and I‘m really happy.

“I will work hard, like I did last year, and I‘m extremely motivated to achieve great performances. I feel like the winter period is too long – I‘m really excited to go to the Sepang test next week to ride my new YZR-M1 and meet and work with my crew again. I want to thank YMC and Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team, who have given me the opportunity to enter the MotoGP class in 2019. I will give my all to do them proud again this year.”

Yamaha Racing’s managing director Lin Jarvis commented: “We are very pleased that Fabio will be joining the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team line-up for 2021 and 2022. His results in his MotoGP debut year were sensational. His six pole positions and the seven podiums in the 2019 season were a clear sign of his brilliance and exceptional riding skills.

“Inviting him to move up to the Yamaha Factory Racing Team after he completes his contract with Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team was a logical next step. For the upcoming season he will be provided with a factory-spec YZR-M1 and he will receive full support from Yamaha.

“Fabio is only 20 years old, but he is already showing great maturity on and off the bike, and we are excited to have him join us in 2021. Fabio and Maverick will provide a big stimulus to all of us in the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team to continue to develop the YZR-M1 and leave no stone unturned in our quest for MotoGP World Championship victories.”

Multi-time world champion Rossi and Yamaha have mutually agreed his decision to continue racing in 2021 will be taken mid-2020, although the manufacturer has assured the Italian legend of the availability of a factory-spec YZR-M1 bike and support under a satellite team should he continue he career.