Alex Rins will bring his motorcycle racing career to an end after the 2026 MotoGP season, with the Yamaha rider set to switch to four-wheel competition in 2027.
The 30-year-old Spaniard confirmed his decision ahead of this weekend’s San Marino Grand Prix, less than three months after Yamaha announced that he would leave its MotoGP programme at the end of the season.
Rins has not yet revealed which championship or category he will compete in, saying the project is still being finalised. However, he made it clear that he will not move to the World Superbike Championship despite having two offers available.
“I will not go to a superbike next year,” Rins said. “I have a really good, really interesting project in mind that I can't reveal because it's not done 100%.”
The decision marks the end of a 14-year journey in the MotoGP World Championship. Rins moved into the premier class with Suzuki in 2017 after finishing runner-up in both Moto3 and Moto2.
Across his 10 seasons in MotoGP, he recorded six wins and 18 podium finishes, with most of those results coming during his time with Suzuki.
His move to LCR Honda in 2023 produced another memorable moment when he won the Americas Grand Prix in only his third race for the team. However, his season was severely disrupted by a serious leg injury suffered at Mugello.
Source: Autosport
Rins joined Yamaha in 2024, but his three-year spell with the manufacturer has proved difficult. Yamaha's struggles with the M1, combined with Rins' own recovery from injury, limited his opportunities to fight at the front.
After spending almost his entire professional career on two wheels, Rins admitted that walking away was not an easy decision.
“I've asked myself a lot whether I'm sad to quit, whether to continue or not, whether to change championships,” he said.
“It's something I've been doing all my life. My whole life I've been preparing to race motorcycles.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his next move, Rins said the new project has given him fresh motivation. He also acknowledged that the challenges of recent years had reduced his desire to continue competing on motorcycles.
“I have to be satisfied with what I've achieved,” he said. “I've had many victories and many battles. I've fought for championships in Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP. I haven't won them all, but I've had the opportunity to fight for the title in all three categories.”
Rins has already developed an interest in cars away from professional racing. He has driven off-road vehicles in the desert, taken part in ice racing and worked on his own Jeep, experiences that have helped fuel his interest in making the switch.
While his professional motorcycle career is coming to an end, Rins does not intend to completely cut ties with two wheels.
He left open the possibility of returning to motorcycle racing in a limited role in the future, similar to former MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow, while stressing that motorsport will remain a major part of his life.
“I'll keep training and practising,” Rins said.
For now, his immediate focus remains on completing the 2026 MotoGP season before beginning a new chapter in four-wheel racing next year.
Rins' departure will also contribute to a major reshuffle at Yamaha. With Fabio Quartararo moving to Honda for 2027, Yamaha will start next season with Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura as its new factory rider pairing.
