After the shock news that Michael van der Mark was leaving the official Pata Yamaha squad for the 2021 season the question of who would line up alongside Toprak Razgatlioglu next year has been a topic of regular conversation.

It still is, as Yamaha has apparently yet to make final decisions on its rider line-up, at least in terms of which particular rider goes where.

The official seat seems either the most likely 2021 property of new WorldSSP champion Andrea Locatelli or the recent first time WorldSBK podium rider, Garrett Gerloff.

Which one is the big question, as either could be a good choice for the future, but Gerloff would be the one who would make most sense under Yamaha’s ‘graduation’ system, where successful riders move up the ladder from class-to-higher-class.

Currently with the GRT Junior team, on 2019 machinery, Gerloff may well continue inside this ‘side-chain’ effort but his Barcelona podium should guarantee him more up to date specs on his 2021 bike at the very least.

Locatelli’s brilliant 2020 WorldSSP campaign, still ongoing although he became the clearest ever champion last time out, logically dictates that he should go straight into the GRT Junior team, before being considered for the Pata Yamaha official team top job.

But he is still the hottest tip for a direct arrival the official team, in some quarters.

The fate of current GRT Yamaha second rider Federico Caricasulo is as yet unknown.

Loris Baz seems likely to stay with his current Ten Kate Yamaha squad, despite many earlier links to the factory seat – but as of today his final 2021 ride is another not-quite-defined quantity.

Even on the eve of the penultimate 2020 round final decisions are yet to be made in the allocation of Yamaha rides for next year, but things should be completely clear before the next round in Estoril, less likely to be announced during this weekend.