Morbidell꧑i entered 2023 with question marks surrounding whether Yamaha would keep him beyond his current contract which expires aꩲt the end of this campaign.

Toprak Razgatlioglu testing the M1 in Jerez last ♏week added fuel to the rumour mill.

• Yamaha boss reveals No1 hope for 2024♏ line-up - and it's not Toprak♎ Razgatlioglu

Asked if there was a deadline for Morbidelli’s future to be decided, Yamaha managing director Jarvis said: “Yes.&n♊bsp;

“Obviously, to beꦗ frank, all of these considerations? At the end of the first half of the season, he needs to know and we need to know for planning for next year.

“There is no specific deadline set in stone.”

Jarvis has previously emphasised that his No 1 choice to be Fabio Quartararo’s teammat💖e in 2024 would be Morbidelli, if he can maintain the fine form he has shown in the first three rounds of this season.

Jorge Martin, the Pramac Ducati rider, i🍌s another name heavily linꩲked with a switch to Yamaha for next year.

“It’s too early 𒊎to talk about names,” Jarvis replied. “The priority is Franky.

“If it’s not going 🌱to happen, we’ll look at it, at the appropriate time.”

Morbidelli was outperforming his esteemed teammate Quartararo after two rounds of this season, an excellent start particularly considering thꦗe pressure he h𓆏as come under.

His renewed potential is a part of the fine form shown by his fellow VR46 Academy riders, Marco Bezzechi, Luca Marini and Francesco Bagnai𒈔a.

But Yamaha still 🎃only envisage two bikes on the grid next year so Morbideꩵlli must continue scrapping away to earn a new contract.

“At this moment, to have a satellite team for ‘🧔24 seems to be difficult,” Jarvis said. “That is t🍌he reality.

“Wꦦe’d like to have four bikes back on the grid at the earliest possible opportunity.

“But I think it will♋ be difficult for ‘24 for vari﷽ous reasons.

“For sure, we will have the factory team there.

“We have Franky on🍰 a contract until the end of this year.

“Otherwise we would look in the MotoGP paddock.”