Maverick Vinales’ resolution to stop the manufacturing facility Yamaha squad on the finish of the present MotoGP season amid a strained relationship between each events is about to open up at the very least one spot at SRT in 2022, with Franco Morbidelli the more than likely choice to interchange him.
Should Valentino Rossi retire on the finish of the yr or transfer on to race his personal VR46 Ducati – a risk now because the alleged title sponsorship between Aramco and VR46 doesn’t exist – SRT may have to search out two riders for 2022.
Rea’s title has been talked about alongside fellow WSBK riders Toprak Razgatlioglu and Garrett Gerloff, each of whom finally penning new Yamaha offers in WSBK.
Having contested two races in 2012 with Honda as Casey Stoner’s damage alternative, Rea has had a number of affords to maneuver to MotoGP full-time since however none ok for him to show his again on title-winning equipment with Kawasaki in WSBK.
Signing a brand new multi-year take care of Kawasaki in 2020, which the group confirmed on the time would embody at the very least two seasons, Rea hasn’t dominated out the opportunity of switching to MotoGP subsequent yr with SRT ought to the chance come up.
“Yeah, it’s always [in my mind],” he stated at Assen on Thursday when requested if he nonetheless considered a transfer to MotoGP.
“I mean I’m riding the best ever, I’m really in the peak of my riding/life balance, everything. So, never say never.”
When requested if profitable a seventh title in WSBK this yr would tempt him to MotoGP, he replied: “Never say never.”
Rea additionally admitted he was “very surprised” that each Razgatlioglu and Gerloff elected to signal new WSBK offers as an alternative of pursuing seats in MotoGP with SRT, noting he has “quite a strong opinion about it off the record”.
Gerloff – who stood in for the injured Morbidelli at Assen final month – says he didn’t have any affords to go to MotoGP earlier than signing his new WSBK deal.
However, the door isn’t utterly shut on the American racing in MotoGP in 2022 as his new WSBK deal to stick with Yamaha and its satellite tv for pc GRT squad is alleged to have a clause that will enable him to exit the deal if a MotoGP supply does come his means.
“Well, I have no offer right now,” he stated when requested why he wasn’t going to MotoGP.
“I didn’t have any supply. I imply, for positive it’s a troublesome resolution for the groups to should make, however no, I had the [WSBK] supply from Yamaha and that was the one supply and I used to be very happy to take it as a result of I’ve been actually pleased with Yamaha and in addition actually pleased with GRT.
“So, for me as the only offer I was happy to take it.”
