A World Superbike star will debut in MotoGP as Garrett Gerloff replaces Morbidelli for the 2021 Dutch TT. The Petronas Yamaha SRT team needed to find a substitute after Franco Morbidelli injured his knee during training, leaving them one rider short for the MotoGP round at TT Circuit Assen this week.
Fortunately the American GRT Yamaha WorldSBK rider Garret Gerloff was available, as there’s a short break in the superbike season before the next round at Donington on July 2-4th. And Gerloff has some experience of the Yamaha YZR-M1, having previously substituted for Valentino Rossi for the Monster Energy Yamaha team during the European GP practice sessions in 2020.
Both Gerloff and Pata Yamaha rider Toprak Razgatliolgu were considered for the spot, but the Turkish rider chose to focus on World SBK. Which makes sense when you’re second in the championship, and just 20 points behind leader Jonathan Rea.
Gerloff is currently sixth in the World Superbike rider standings for 2021, and the 25-year-old has previously won two MotoAmerica Supersport championships in 2016 and 2017, and claimed a top three finish in the 2019 MotoAmerica Superbike series.
“I’m excited for the opportunity ahead, I’m not someone who runs away from a challenge, so I’m ready to get to the track. It’ll be a new circuit for me, I like trying new tracks, it looks fun, fast and flowing, and really suits my riding style. I’m looking forward to jumping on the Yamaha M1 again and twisting the throttle. We’ll see how things go, but I feel good and would like to thank Yamaha and the team for considering me. It won’t be easy, but I’m going to give it my best shot!”
Who is your money on for a podium this weekend, as Garrett Gerloff replaces Mordbidelli for the 2021 Dutch TT and Marc Marquez has resumed his winning ways as he continues to recover from injury? See more of our motorcycle sport coverage, from club racing to MotoGP, here.
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