Maverick Vinales will ride for the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the team announced Thursday.

Vinales, who currently races for Suzuki and lies fifth in the MotoGP Championship standings, will partner nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi.

Vinales, 21, made his World Championship debut in 2011 in the 125cc class. His racing career highlights include winning the Moto3 World Championship in 2013 as well as three Rookie of the Year awards in 2011 (125cc), 2014 (Moto2) and 2015 (MotoGP).