Maverick Vinales’ decision to leave the Yamaha factory team at the end of the current MotoGP season amid a strained relationship between the two parties will open at least one spot at SRT in 2022, with Franco Morbidelli being the most likely option to replace him.
Should Valentino Rossi retire at the end of the year or drive his own VR46 Ducati – a possibility now that the alleged title sponsorship between Aramco and VR46 does not exist – SRT may have to find two riders in 2022.
Rea’s name was mentioned along with WSBK colleagues Toprak Razgatlioglu and Garrett Gerloff, who both ended up writing new Yamaha deals in the WSBK.
After competing in two races with Honda as a replacement for Casey Stoner in 2012, Rea has had several offers to switch to MotoGP since then, but none was good enough to turn his back on the title-winning machinery with Kawasaki in the WSBK.
In signing a new multi-year deal with Kawasaki in 2020, which the team confirmed at the time would span at least two seasons, Rea did not rule out the possibility of moving to MotoGP with SRT next year if the opportunity arises .
“Yes, it always is [in my mind]“, He said on Thursday in Assen when asked if he was still thinking about a move to MotoGP.
Jonathan Rea, Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“I mean, I ride the best ever, I’m really at the peak of my riding / life balance, everything. So, never say never. “
When asked if winning a seventh WSBK title this year would lure him into MotoGP, he replied, “Never say never.”
Rea also admitted that he was “very surprised” that both Razgatlioglu and Gerloff chose to sign new WSBK deals rather than aiming for a MotoGP seat with SRT, noting that he was “quite a.” has a strong public opinion “.
Gerloff – who stood up for the injured Morbidelli in Assen last month – says he had no offers for MotoGP prior to signing his new WSBK deal.
However, the door to American racing in MotoGP is not fully closed in 2022 as its new WSBK deal to stay with Yamaha and its satellite GRT team is said to have a clause that would allow it to close the deal to quit when a MotoGP offer does so comes its way.
“Well, I don’t have an offer at the moment,” he said when asked why he wouldn’t compete in MotoGP.
“I didn’t have an offer. I mean, it’s sure to be a tough decision for the teams, but no, I had that [WSBK] Offer from Yamaha and that was the only offer and I gladly accepted it because I am very satisfied with both Yamaha and GRT.
“So for me as the only offer I gladly accepted it.”