Yamaha is the latest to showcase its 2021 MotoGP livery with its new line-up of Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo.
After the likes of Avintia, Ducati, KTM and Tech 3 Racing, Yamaha became the latest MotoGP outfit to showcase its 2021 livery along with the outfit’s new line-up of Vinales and Quartararo – it was the Frenchman’s first full look in his new colours.
The lengthy launch video from Yamaha took us in a virtual pit garage with the team members and the riders, as it showed Vinales moving to the ride side where Valentino Rossi used to sit, while Quartararo taking the left spot in the garage.
They connected with some members online, including its marketing head, who confirmed a contract extension with Monster Energy. The team chief Lin Jarvis also spoke about their partnership and also the other sponsors, who continue to support them in MotoGP.
In terms of the livery, Yamaha retained its 2020 colours largely with blue playing a dominant role alongside black. The racing suit had a bit more black with blue, as both the suit and the M1 had the Monster Energy logo present.
Speaking after the livery reveal, Jarvis, said: ‘This year we are entering our ninth year with Monster Energy Company as our sponsor and our third year with them as our title sponsor. We take great pride in the team’s long-term partnership with them as well as the strong global alliance between Yamaha and Monster Energy that forms an instant connection between the two brands.
“This bond cannot only be seen on track, through branding, but it’s also there behind the scenes and off track. The team wants to sincerely thank Monster Energy for their continuous support and commitment, as well as their genuine interest and passion for the sport. The same goes for our numerous other team sponsors, official partners, and suppliers. Without their dedication we would not be able to do what we love most – competing at the top-tier level of motorcycle racing.
“We greatly miss having our sponsors, partners, as well as the media and the fans, attend events such as today’s press launch. However, we hope that the virtual reality experience made them feel ‘close to us’ again. The use of this state-of-the-art technology is also a reflection of our current mind-set: this season we are not leaving any stones unturned to get the job done.
“Last year, Yamaha was the most successful manufacturer in terms of GP wins, with seven wins in total, but we missed out on the Championship Title. Our goal for this year is to win the MotoGP World Championship. With the arrival of Fabio paired with Maverick we have two title contenders on board and so we know what we need to do – win races and maintain consistency all season long. I believe with the improvements on the bike and the changes within our team we are ready to do just that. Let’s go racing!”
At the same time, Vinales, stated: “Last year was a crazy year for all of us. We have left that behind us now and we’ll focus on what’s to come. With the two tests in Sepang cancelled I will have to wait a bit longer to ride my M1 again. It’s a long winter break, so I’m feeling impatient to get to work, but in a good way.
“After having enjoyed some time of rest during the off-season, we are all excited to start work again. We don’t have a lot of testing opportunities – just the Qatar Test – so we will have to be on our A-game straight away.”
And finally, Quartararo added: “I’m excited to start the new season, especially because I’m in a new team. Throughout my career I have always been moving from team to team – I like this. It’s exciting to work with new people and learn new things. I’m looking forward to the Qatar Test – it can’t come soon enough!
“I’ll finally get to try my Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1 for the first time. I’ve seen quite a lot of photoshopped versions of my number on the Factory Yamaha bike on social media, but – however well they are made – nothing compares to the feeling I got when I saw the real thing for the first time. I can’t wait to start riding!”
Here’s few photos:
Here’s more of the bike: https://www.yamahamotogp.com/media/photo/15-02-2021-2021-yamaha-yzr-m1/close-up
Here’s more of the bike/riders: https://www.yamahamotogp.com/media/photo/15-02-2021-monster-energy-yamaha-motogp-riders/maverick-vinales
Here’s the full online launch from Yamaha:
Here’s Fabio Quartararo revealing about COVID-19
2021 MotoGP launches so far:
UPDATE: Joining the likes of KTM, Ducati, LCR and Honda, Yamaha confirmed its stay in MotoGP until the 2026 season after signing a new deal, starting from 2022. “First and foremost, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Carmelo Ezpeleta and Dorna, as well as all of the Yamaha personnel who made our successful run at the highest level of motorcycle racing possible,” said Toyoshi Nishida.
“At Yamaha we take great pride in taking part in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. We are all very pleased that we can confirm the contract renewal for a further five years at the start of an important season for our company. Yamaha started competing in World Grand Prix racing in 1961. Sixty years on, Yamaha’s passion for motorcycle racing and eagerness to take on a challenge remains unchanged.
“MotoGP makes up a large part of Yamaha’s DNA. The premier class’s cutting-edge technology will continue to make their way to Yamaha street bikes, bringing customers’ motorcycle and motorsport fantasies to life on and off-track, giving them the feeling of Kando. At the same time, I think the coming five years of collaborating with Dorna and the other MotoGP manufacturers will be very important for the future.
“We want to keep the excitement of MotoGP racing while at the same time making it more sustainable and appealing to a wider public. We thank all Yamaha fans for their continuous support, and we look forward to bringing them even more exciting and precious memories in the future.”
At the same time, Carmelo Ezpeleta added: “First of all, I would like to thank Nishida-san and all the members of Yamaha for the long-term collaboration during all these years. At Dorna we are pleased to be a part of the culmination of this partnership by extending our agreement with Yamaha.
“We are eager to witness this new chapter of the iconic Japanese manufacturer celebrating its 60th anniversary in the racing scene, a factory that has always shown a great commitment with the MotoGP World Championship and whose future will see many other exciting challenges to be enjoyed together in these upcoming years.”
