Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd made one of the most significant partnership announcements in recent years of the MotoGP World Championship on Wednesday. The exceptional agreement sees TELEFONICA DE ESPAÑA, S.A joining Yamaha with its renowned Movistar brand as title sponsor of the Yamaha Factory Racing Team for an extensive five-year contract.
The joining of these two iconic names from the premier class of motorcycle racing creates a new name for the team. Starting from the first race of the 2014 season, the team will be known as the “Movistar Yamaha MotoGP” Team and riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi will embark on their title challenge under the floodlights of Qatar on March 23 under this name.
"This is a big day for the sport,” said Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing. “We are delighted to be able to welcome the Movistar brand back into the world of MotoGP in such spectacular fashion. Dedicated fans of motorcycle racing will know that Movistar has a strong history in the sport, and in the past they supported many talented young riders who later evolved to be the top stars in the MotoGP class. We are therefore honoured that they chose Yamaha as their partner to re-enter motorcycle racing.
“The five-year partnership provides an incredibly stable platform for both parties to fully exploit the relationship and make plans not just in the short-term but also strategically over a longer period. Their long-term commitment is also a strong sign of confidence in the sport and provides reassurance to the other sponsors and partners involved with our team.”
The Movistar brand will feature prominently on all team assets (YZR-M1, riders’ leathers, team uniform, pit-garage, trucks, hospitality) for the next five years.
The new official team logo was made public on Wednesday but the full 2014 Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team livery will only be unveiled on March 19 in Losail, Qatar, just before the opening race.
“Movistar is coming back to MotoGP; this moment is going to be one of the most important landmarks for our company history in 2014,” said Dante Cacciatore, director of communication and customer experience, Telefonica Spain. “Even though the adrenaline and engine sounds and even the smell of the gasoline and the support of the fans are yet to flow through our veins it's impossible for us to be much more excited. This return couldn`t have been a better kick off.
“We have decided to join Yamaha Factory Racing as a travel partner to embark on the same journey together. The team has achieved nine world championship titles and holds two magnificent World Champions in Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. To speak of Yamaha is to speak of motorcycling, and not only that. It is to speak of the essence of teamwork at its best and the passion of proudly waving a flag of true racing heritage in front of a passionate crowd who support on each turn and on each straight. These values are identical to those we share at Movistar.”
--From www.yamaha-racing.com
{fcomment}
