Alex Rins to leave MotoGP and two-wheeled racing at the end of the 2026 season

Here is the news that hits you right in the chest: Alex Rins has officially confirmed he will leave MotoGP and step away from two-wheeled racing entirely at the conclusion of the 2026 season. That is right, a career spanning fourteen years, packed with massive fights, grueling races, and glorious wins, is drawing to a definitive close.

Now, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider had previously been linked with a switch to WorldSBK. He admitted that he had two possibilities on the table in that championship, and he made sure to express his gratitude to those who showed genuine interest. But he has firmly ruled out a Superbike move after locking onto something completely different. As Rins himself put it, “I found another thing that really motivates me more.”

That mystery venture is still under wraps. The rider noted that he has a really interesting project in mind, though he cannot reveal the details yet because the arrangement is not one hundred percent done. We will just have to wait on that machine.

Looking back at his incredible journey, the man's pedigree is undeniable. Rins arrived in the premier class with Suzuki following a stunning spell in the junior categories, where he secured runner-up finishes in both Moto3 and Moto2. Across his premier-class career, he has claimed six Grand Prix victories and eighteen podiums.

His path has certainly seen its share of wild turns. Following Suzuki's departure from the championship, Rins joined LCR Honda and delivered an astonishing victory at the Americas GP in just his third race with the squad. Unfortunately, his 2023 campaign took a brutal hit when he suffered a serious leg injury at Mugello. He subsequently moved to the Yamaha factory team, spending the past three seasons with the manufacturer.

Reflecting on the magnitude of his choice, Rins admitted that walking away from motorcycle racing has been far from straightforward. “I'm really happy,” he reflected. “For sure it was difficult to choose, because all my life in MotoGP, in this championship, many fights, many races, many wins. 14 years, more or less. So yeah, I will stop with two wheels. So yeah, I will stop with two wheels.”