Movistar Yamaha has pulled the wraps off its MotoGP Yamaha YZR M1 in Spain today. Yamaha’s poster-boy Valentino Rossi will be teaming up and racing along with 22-year old Maverick Viñales who left the factory Suzuki team after his short tenure of one year. One of the major differences in this year’s MotoGP bike that the duo will be riding for the 2017 MotoGP season is the new livery that features a deeper shade of blue and a prominent Movistar logo.
37-year old Valentino Rossi had last wYamaha becomes the first manufacturer to unveil the 2017 MotoGP machineon a world championship seven years back and will be racing for the eighth title this year. Having raced with Movistar Yamaha for the majority period of his career, the Italian champ is looking forward to the 2017 season. On the other hand, Yamaha has some high hopes from Rossi’s Spaniard teammate Viñales, who kicked off his partnership with Yamaha by topping post-season testing at Valencia in November last year, after his public debut in Yamaha colors at the launch. Viñales has also been impressive during private testing at Sepang that took place later in the month of November. “The bike for me was very fast. I was quite surprised that I could go so fast on the Yamaha.” said Viñales.
Rossi quoted, “Maverick impressed me from the very first day. Unfortunately for me he is already very strong.” Upon asking about the game plan for 2017, Rossi said, “Make good races and fight for the victory, stay concentrated and strong. Understand potential of the bike and competitors.”
Lin Jarvis, racing managing director said “The goal every year is to do the maximum for our brand. Team work is one of the important things with energy, collaboration and cooperation. This year we have a brilliant team, we want to win the riders title and constructors’ title.”
Both the Yamaha factory riders will be riding the Yamaha YZR M1 at the first official pre-season test of 2017 at Sepang, which starts on January 30.