Yamaha Factory Racing unveiled their 2014 livery in Jakarta. Jorge Lorenzo wants to fight for the MotoGP title again, while Valentino Rossi will try to improve his 2013 results.
Jakarta’s Governor Joko Widodo hosted the team at the Indonesian capital’s City Hall. Key Yamaha Indonesia management figures also joined the riders and the Governor for a press conference – as the 2014 livery was revealed ahead of a season which will see the team attempt to regain the MotoGP title.
About the new livery, Jorge Lorenzo said: “I like the new bike a lot, it’s very smart and elegant with more white. It’s not just the colour though; I’m excited to see what’s inside the bike in Sepang”. Valentino Rossi’s opinion was: “It’s very nice, very elegant and has more white than last year. It’s still very much in the Yamaha Factory style and I like it a lot”.
Lorenzo confessed his expectations for the season: “They are very high. This winter I had an operation to take out the metal plates in my shoulder so I’m a bit lighter! I will try to start the season well like last year and be straight onto the podium. This will be important to get points and gain confidence to keep going through the season. Our rivals will be tough but I think if we’ve improved in some areas then we have a good chance to win the title again”. Rossi said: “The expectations for the coming season are very high. My target is to try and do better than last year, be more competitive and fight for the podium every weekend. I am sure our bike will be very competitive again. It was already very good last year and Yamaha engineers were able to develop it further through the season therefore I expect a lot from my new M1 and I am sure it will get even better during the season”.
Regarding the rumours saying that Lorenzo would join Ducati in 2015, the Spaniard denied them: “When you are fast and winning races all the big factories want you, this is normal. I have to clarify that there is no truth in the rumours that there is a contract with another manufacturer and I would like to start negotiating as soon as possible for my future with Yamaha. My dream is to retire after my career as a Yamaha rider”.
The new Yamaha bikes will have their debut in the preseason testing that will take part in Sepang in February.