Yamaha and Valentino Rossi continue their partnership for
two more years
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd is delighted to announce that it has
signed a new two-year agreement with Valentino Rossi. The
seven-time world champion will continue to race with the Yamaha
Factory Racing Team for the 2009 and 2010 MotoGP World Championships.
The 29-year-old Italian joined Yamaha in 2004 and since then
he has won two world championships, 32 races and taken 20
pole positions for the Japanese factory. He is currently leading
the 2008 rider championship, having taken three wins and a
further five podiums in the first ten races this year. Rossi
will continue to race alongside Spanish youngster Jorge Lorenzo
in 2009.
Rossi and Masao Furusawa, Executive Officer, Engineering
Operations of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd, signed the contract today
at the Laguna Seca circuit and made the public announcement
at Yamaha US’s traditional Laguna Seca party at the
Monterey Bay Aquarium this evening.
Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director Lin Jarvis
commented, “We are obviously delighted to have secured
Valentino for a further two years. I think this news will
be very welcome for MotoGP fans and for Yamaha fans around
the world. Valentino is an icon in this sport and he is on
top form right now as he challenges to win his eighth world
championship and his third title together with Yamaha. This
signing confirms Yamaha’s four-rider line-up for 2009
so now we can concentrate our full efforts on bike development
and team organization to make sure that we are in the best
possible shape for next year.
“In the meantime we have many races to go this season
and I hope that Valentino can win in Laguna Seca for the first
time this Sunday to extend his championship lead before the
well-deserved summer break – Forza Vale!”
Valentino Rossi added, "After so many
years spent in racing, fortunately with so many victories,
I needed a special motivation to take the decision to sign
for two more years. The best place to find this motivation
is Yamaha, since I have a great relationship with Yamaha's
directors, which comes from a mutual trust and loyalty. In
our team there is a special atmosphere and with this new deal
I can continue to work with my crew, where I am part of the
project and part of the development of my M1. I had other
opportunities but due to Yamaha's efforts to give me the best
bike in the best environment, I have decided to stay with
Yamaha for two more years. This contract means that Yamaha
is the manufacturer I will have spent most of my career with.
This means more than a thousand words"
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