Yamaha MotoGP chief Lin Jarvis says Yamaha could field just one works bike for the next two MotoGP rounds as it searches for a replacement for injured superstar Valentino Rossi.
Jarvis reported that Rossi had a comfortable night in a Florence hospital, as the Italian embarks on months of recovery from his broken right leg.
"He seems to have slept fairly well and hopefully myself and Mr [Masao] Furusawa [the Yamaha boss] will be going to visit him tomorrow morning," said Jarvis. "It's really weird to not have him here and we feel partially deflated. Here at his home GP there's normally a mania around Valentino. There's a hole here today."
On the subject of Rossi's replacement, Jarvis said no decision had yet been made.
"We've had a lot of thoughts about it but it's really too early to decide," he said. "We will replace him, probably at Catalunya [Barcelona], maybe before – it depends on what our decision is. It's not easy to find a replacement for Valentino, and to ride Valentino's bike."
The next MotoGP round is at Silverstone on June 20, quickly followed by events at Assen and Barcelona.