Is Viñales set to make a shock switch to Aprilia for 2022?

In what would be the shock of the century, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Maverick Viñales is being strongly linked with a stunning switch to Aprilia ahead of the 2022 MotoGP™ World Championship. News broke overnight that the Motul TT Assen poleman was imminently about to break from his Yamaha contract a year early, before then signing to become Aleix Espargaro's Aprilia Racing teammate next year.

With the news sweeping the paddock and dominating headlines, motogp.com's Simon Crafar attempted to speak with Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis in Warm Up but he refused to comment on the rumours.

Subsequently, MotoGP™'s Spanish broadcast partner, DAZN, spoke with Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola for the very latest: "We don't know if Maverick will be on the market for 2022. If he is released by Yamaha, then he will certainly be of interest to us. But it is all to be built. First of all, we have to see if the rider is available and if he is willing to come to us. We have not spoken with him yet. But if he is released from Yamaha we will talk to him immediately."

Stay tuned to motogp.com following the Motul TT Assen as we speak to all of the key players in the story that is sure to send shockwaves throughout the MotoGP™ paddock in the coming weeks and months.