The 2013 MotoGP season kicks off this weekend at the Grand Prix of Qatar, and like many of you, we can’t wait to see how this season plays out. There are a number of plot twists this year, with Rossi, Marquez, Pedrosa and Lorenzo all grabbing headlines. Here, we’ll highlight the top 10 storylines to watch this year.
Yamaha officially launched its 2013 MotoGP factory team, revealing the new livery for riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi and their YZR-M1 prototypes.
The new livery returns to a predominantly blue design with white elements compared to last year’s design which was more predominantly white. The livery also features a modern interpretation of Yamaha‘s speed block design.
Rossi’s M1 features his iconic #46 in his traditional yellow while Lorenzo’s M1 features a red #99 instead of the #1 he earned as the 2012 MotoGP champion. Lorenzo wore the #1 plate in 2011 after winning the 2010 title. Lorenzo says he was excited to use the #1 plate after winning his first MotoGP title but the following season was not as successful, with his point total dropping from an all-time record of 360 points to 260 in 2011. Lorenzo still finished second that season to Casey Stoner but he says he won two titles with #99 and his fans know him best with that number. Continue Reading »
We’re just over two weeks into the new year which means it’s time for MotoGP teams to start the promotional push for their 2013 MotoGP programs. Ducati is set to reveal its Desmosedici GP13 today at its annual Wrooom ski event with Ferrari‘s Formula One team later today, but Yamaha has gotten the jump on its Italian rival by releasing new photographs and a video of ex-Ducati rider Valentino Rossi and reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo.
Also revealed is the 2013 Yamaha M1, though the racebike is shrouded in graphical overlays of its pilots and devoid of any sponsor logos including the newly signed supporter Monster Energy. So call this more of a teaser than a full reveal. We’ll have to wait just a bit longer to see the 2013 Yamaha M1 in its full race livery.
Until then, enjoy the video and the gallery of still photos. Continue Reading »
As we reported in December, energy drink producer Monster Energy has signed a sponsorship agreement with Yamaha‘s factory MotoGP program, putting its brand on the Yamaha YZR-M1 race bikes, team clothing and equipment, as well as riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.
Monster Energy already had a personal sponsorship deal with Rossi but the company will now also sponsor Lorenzo. The reigning MotoGP Champion had previously had a sponsorship arrangement with rival energy drink company RockStar, but Yamaha exercised a clause in its contract with Lorenzo allowing a buy out of the RockStar deal as it conflicts with the team’s sponsor.
The new agreement with the factory team does not affect Monster Energy’s deal with Yamaha’s satellite team Tech3. The team will still be known as the Monster Energy Yamaha Tech3 team, but all four Yamaha M1s on the grid will now sport Monster Energy’s green M logo. Continue Reading »
Yamaha has reportedly signed energy drink maker Monster Energy to sponsor its factory MotoGP team, according to Spanish site MotoCuatro.com. The new sponsorship deal created a bit of a problem however, as Yamaha‘s star rider Jorge Lorenzo recently signed a two-year contact extension to his personal sponsorship deal with RockStar, a rival energy drink maker.
To get around this sticky situation, MotoCuatro reports Yamaha will invoke a clause in Lorenzo’s contract allowing the manufacturer to veto and buy out his RockStar contract.
The two energy drinks managed to co-exist within the Yamaha garage this past season. Along with RockStar’s sponsorship of Lorenzo, Monster Energy had a sponsorship agreement with his teammate Ben Spies. The difference next season however is Spies’ replacement, Valentino Rossi. Continue Reading »
In a pair of carefully-timed press releases, Ducati announced it will part ways with MotoGP star Valentino Rossi at the end of the season and Yamaha announced it has signed Rossi to a two-year contract.
The arrangement had been in the works for some time now and the two manufacturers had reportedly wanted to wait until Aug. 15 to make their announcements. But it’s very hard to stop the rumor mill from churning, especially when it involves the highest-profile Grand Prix motorcycle racer of this generation. After word leaked of Rossi’s impending return to Yamaha, the two manufacturers moved up the announcement date.
Rossi raced the last two seasons for Ducati‘s factory MotoGP team after a seven-year stint with Yamaha. His time with Ducati however was far less successful. In 27 races with Ducati, Rossi has finished on the podium just two times, finishing seventh in the 2011 season and currently sitting in eighth place in the championship. Continue Reading »
Back in 2009, Yamaha released an entertaining video featuring MotoGP racers Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Colin Edwards and James Toseland working on various mundane jobs at Yamaha Motor USA headquarters.
Three years later, Yamaha has released a follow-up featuring its current MotoGP lineup of Lorenzo, Ben Spies, Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso (with King Kenny Roberts lunchbox in tow).
Tech3 Yamaha racer Crutchlow takes over his predecessor Edwards’ spot as a Yamaha security guard, but throws his own British spin on the job. The soft-spoken Spies tried his hand at Rossi’s former post as a receptionist but found it didn’t quite match his skill set. Tech3′s Dovizioso takes over for Lorenzo’s former position as janitor, and he takes to it much better than the 2010 MotoGP champion did. Lorenzo meanwhile landed a big promotion. Continue Reading »
MotoGP racer Ben Spies has announced he will not re-sign with Yamaha while hinting at an impending announcement for his plans for the 2013 racing season.
Earlier this week, Spies used Twitter (@BenSpies11) to hint at a change for next season. In an email to SuperbikePlanet, Spies confirmed he has decided not to remain with Yamaha for several unspecified reasons.
Spies did not leave many hints as to his plans for 2013, saying he will wait for the official announcement before commenting. Spies’ options include signing with another MotoGP team, returning to the World Superbike Championship and returning to race AMA in the U.S.
Yamaha is giving away a 50th Anniversary Edition YZR-R1 autographed by current and former Grand Prix racers to benefit Bubba Shobert‘s Race 2 Embrace Crusade. The one-0f-a-kind R1 will be on display at the July 27-29 U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca
The unique R1 is painted in Yamaha‘s 50th Anniversary colors and features autographs from legends such as Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey, as well as current MotoGP racers Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies from the factory Yamaha team and Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso from the Tech 3 Yamaha team.
AMA racing legend Shobert is the official ambassador for the Race 2 Embrace Crusade, a non-profit organization that assists children living in areas devastated by natural disasters. The organization provides goods and services including shelter, health care, nutrition, education and social and emotional assistance. Continue Reading »
Racing legend Giacomo Agostini celebrated his 70th birthday at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend, where he was celebrated by Yamaha.
“Ago”, who holds the all-time record for Grand Prix wins (122) and Grand Prix World Championships (15), was feted in a ceremony that also included current Yamaha riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies as well as retired racers Loris Capirossi, Phil Read, John Cooper, Angel Nieto, Franco Uncini and Jim Redman, as well as MotoGP promoter Carmelo Ezpeleta and Yamaha Classic Racing Team principal Ferry Brouwer.
Yamaha presented Agostini with a one-off T-Max scooter with livery inspired by his 1975 championship-winning YZR500 OW23. The special T-Max also decorated with stars above the front headlights to represent Agostini’s 15 World Titles (including his two with Yamaha and the rest with MV Agusta). Continue Reading »
