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Yamaha MotoGP

  • Pasukan pengilang Yamaha kini dikenali dengan nama Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP.
  • Mereka turut memperkenalkan kemasan grafik baharu untuk jentera Yamaha YZR-M1 2019 bagi kejohanan MotoGP musim 2019.
  • Monster Energy telah mengambil alih penajaan utama dari Movistar.

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  • The Yamaha factory team is now called the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP.

  • They also launched the new livery for the 2019 Yamaha YZR-M1 for the MotoGP 2019 season.

  • Monster Energy takes over from Movistar.

The factory Yamaha MotoGP squad unveiled their new Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP livery and the 2019 Yamaha YZR-M1.

Monster Energy has taken over from Spanish telecommunications company Movistar as the main sponsor of the team. Hence the new livery consists of more black paint matched to the traditional Yamaha racing blue. The energy drink brand was already sponsoring both Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinalez prior to this.

Whatever it is, the factory Yamaha team is looking forward to leaping back into contention after a dismal 2018 season. The longest losing streak in the brand’s history was thankfully broken when Vinalez won at Phillip Island.

The dearth of meaningful results even prompted Yamaha’s Project Leader Koiji Tsuya to issue a public apology to the riders, team and fans. He then stepped down last month and replaced by former head of chassis division Takahiro Sumi.

Riders Rossi and Vinalez will finally get to test the new bike during the first Pre-Season Test at the Sepang International Circuit from 6thto 8thFebruary.

Valentino Rossi

“I like it very much – Yamaha is always blue, and the blue of the Yamaha is beautiful, but I like the black of Monster because the colour of my soccer team, Inter, so I feel comfortable.”

Maverick Vinalez

“I can’t wait to start, the holidays were already too long,” Vinales said. “I would like to be on the bike. I’m really curious to see the steps forward we did and see if we can push the bike at the maximum already in the first test.”

  • Some folks have speculated that Dani Pedrosa will stay in MotoGP next season together with the Petronas Yamaha satellite team.

  • While nothing has been confirmed, Lin Jarvis stated that talks between Yamaha and Petronas are currently going well.

  • The next 24 hours will reveal if these possibilities are true as we wait for the official announcements.

After last round’s fiasco regarding the future of current Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa, a lot of different folks around the world have already begun speculating the Spaniard’s future in MotoGP. With all of the factory seats confirmed, one question remains. WHERE WILL DANI PEDROSA GO? (more…)

Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi memikirkan yang dia serta rakan sepasukannya, Maverick Vinales “mempunyai masalah dan tidak tahu akan puncanya”, dan amat risau akan peluang mereka untuk bersaing dengan baik di GP Jepun di Litar Twin Ring Motegi, sekiranya cuaca hujan ini berterusan. Kedua-dua penunggang dari pasukan Movistar Yamaha MotoGP ini telah bergelut sepanjang musim dengan kekurangan cengkaman di bahagian belakang jentera Yamaha YZF-M1 mereka.

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Valentino Rossi reckons he and teammate Maverick Vinalez are “in trouble and don’t know why,” in  worried about their chances at the Japanese GP, should the rain continue. The pair has been struggling with lack of rear grip on their Yamaha YZF-M1 through the entire season.

Riders may be able to ride around the problem in the dry, but the rain amplifies the problem.

The factory team seemed to make some headway in previous races, without doubt also attributed to riders’ skill and determination, however yesterday’s free practice sessions at Motegi saw both riders 11th and 12th fastest.

Rossi said, “We’re in trouble and we don’t understand why. Last year I was very competitive in the wet and had a good feeling with the old bike, but this year we’re struggling. We’ve tried to modify the bike, but in the end we’re far from the top. It’s the same as the problem in the dry – we don’t have rear grip.”

While Valentino Rossi knows he’s out of contention for his 10th title as a result of a broken leg, Maverick Vinalez saw first his lead, and now his chances for his first MotoGP tltle slip further and further away.

At the time this article went “live,” Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati Team continued to be the fastest man after FP3 on combined free practice times, ahead of Marc Marquez, Aleix Espargaro and Jorge Lorenzo.

Valentino Rossi dug deep and found some pace to first make it into the top ten before finally going up to fifth fastest. Vinalez is in 14th, meaning that he will need to fight through Q1. The Top 12 combined times qualify automatically to Q2.

Q1 starts at 1:10pm today (14th October).

See the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team 2017 livery in all its glory.

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Rising MotoGP sensation Maverick Viñales confirms his move into Yamaha for 2017.

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MotoGP’s most promising young star Maverick Viñales reportedly set to fill Lorenzo’s vacant seat at Yamaha in 2017.

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After weeks of speculation, it is officially official, reigning MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo will leave the Yamaha MotoGP team at the end of this season. The destination for Lorenzo is the Ducati factory team.

The following is an excerpt from Yamaha’s statement:

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“Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announces that its partnership with Jorge Lorenzo will be discontinued at the close of the 2016 MotoGP season, when Lorenzo will move on to new racing challenges,” read a Yamaha statement.

“Since Lorenzo joined the Yamaha Factory Racing Team in 2008, Lorenzo and Yamaha won three MotoGP World Championships (2010, 2012 and 2015), clinched 41 race wins and have been on the podium 99 times out of 141 races contested.

“Yamaha is extremely grateful for Jorge’s contributions to its racing successes and looks forward to sharing more memorable moments during the remaining 15 MotoGP rounds of 2016, their ninth season together.

“Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. wishes Lorenzo the very best in his future racing endeavours and reconfirms the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team’s full support on his campaign to achieve his fourth MotoGP title.

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Ducati issued the following statement:

“Ducati announces that it has reached an agreement with Jorge Lorenzo thanks to which the Spanish rider will take part in the MotoGP World Championship in 2017 and 2018 aboard the Ducati Desmosedici GP of the Ducati Team.

“Lorenzo, born in Palma de Mallorca on 4 May 1987, has won five world championship titles throughout his racing career (250cc in 2006 and 2007 and MotoGP in 2010, 2012 and 2015).”

Why suddenly?

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Ducati fishing for Lorenzo to don the colour red is nothing new, in fact the Italian team has been at it since 2009 but were turned down multiple times.

Now seems to be the right time for the greatest Spanish racer of all time to make his move.

Many feel that Lorenzo has achieved his best onboard the Yamaha M1, and that Lorenzo is not being perceived with the greatness he deserves.

The Ducati however seems to be primed to win, with both Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone having claimed podium finishes and pole positions, despite lacking the ‘racing sparkle’ that separates the Greats from the podium finishers.

Apparently Lorenzo also feels slighted that Rossi’s contract extension was announced first, instead of the reigning World Champion’s. This is being perceived as Yamaha placing more importance on The Doctor than on Lorenzo. The fact that Yamaha just announced a partnership with Rossi’s VR46 Riders Academy may also have a part to play in Lorenzo’s departure.

The musical chairs begin

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What that means is that someone will have to take over his seat at Yamaha, and one of the Andreas at Ducati will have to vacate their seat.

Andrea Iannone won no favours when he took out both himself and Dovizioso just metres away from a podium finish for both riders in Argentina. And Dovi is also being perceived as the more cool headed one among the two Italians, so it is Dovi that is tipped to stay at Ducati.

Yamaha on the other hand has made no announcement or hinted at the rider to take over from Lorenzo, but it is the upcoming star at Suzuki, Maverick Vinales that is being tipped as the favourite to ride for Yamaha.

Can Lorenzo do what Rossi couldn’t?

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There is no doubt that Lorenzo is one of the all-time greats, in his prime even Rossi was tested at almost every race. Lets not forget that this is the same guy who claimed a podium and second place finish on his debut race in 2008, and in 2010 won six races and never finished a race lower than second. He claimed the title with 383 points, a feat yet to be emulated.

Rossi on the other hand has a galaxy of achievements to his credit as well, but he couldn’t tame the Ducati before returning to Yamaha. If Lorenzo manages to win a race and more at Ducati, he could just clinch the coveted “Mr Popular” title that Rossi has had tor decades.

With the new Ducati Desmo race machine already showing signs of greatness, it seems likely that Lorenzo could just do what even the great Rossi couldn’t – tame a wild Ducati MotoGP race machine.

It is unlikely that Lorenzo will speak openly about Ducati until the end of the season, but if there is one thing for sure, the 2017 MotoGP season is going to be awesome!

Image Credits: MotoGP

Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo rumoured for a possible switch to Ducati.

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A closer look at the new and updated 2016 Yamaha MotoGP factory team livery scheme. (more…)

A closer look at Jorge Lorenzo’s new Shark helmet for the 2016 season. (more…)

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