Yamaha did not renew its contract with Razlan Razali’s squad at the end of 2022 due to the RNF team’s economic difficulties, leaving the Iwata-based manufacturer with only two M1s on the 2023 grid. Taking into account all of the voices coming out of the Yamaha camp, there isn’t a single day when neither the riders nor their bosses don’t regret making a decision that they will try to rectify with the revival of the satellite team.
For obvious reasons, Valentino Rossi’s team is the best-placed candidate for the two M1s, as the Italian legend remains Yamaha’s biggest attraction, despite having been retired for two years. During the last Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, the nine-time world champion signed his contract as the company’s main ambassador, which runs until the end of 2024.
The relationship between Rossi and the Japanese manufacturer survived the departure of the #46 rider to Ducati during his racing career, at the height of Jorge Lorenzo’s popularity, his final farewell at the end of 2021. And the agreement between the team that bears his name and Ducati in 2022, which expires at the end of 2024.
There is still time to confirm the supplier of the motorcycles now owned by Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio, but the following months will be critical in determining the equipment available to VR46, which must be prioritized among the possibilities on the table. Given the demand from a group led by Stefan Pierer to restore MV Agusta into MotoGP, there are three. Despite the Pierer Mobility Group’s momentum, the two most plausible options are to continue the partnership with Ducati or to join forces with Yamaha.
Extending the partnership with Ducati would ensure two competitive bikes with which to be in a stance to compete for podiums and triumphs. The disadvantage of partnering with the Borgo Panigale company is economic because Yamaha’s position allows it to provide more appealing monetary terms. Dorna, the series’ promoter, awards three million euros to each brand that supplies an independent team. This figure does not change according to the number of customers, so Ducati, who supplies Desmosedici to Pramac, Gresini, and VR46, earns the same as Aprilia, Honda, and KTM, who each supply one satellite team. Yamaha is now the only factory that does not receive such a bonus from Dorna.
We will do everything we can to get back to having a satellite team in 2025. But first, we need to improve our package on a technical level. We need to develop our bike to make it more competitive, Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis said in an interview.
