The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team grabbed the spotlight in Madrid, Spain on 19th Jan 2017 as it presented its new rider line-up, 2017 YZR-M1 livery, the team logo, and sponsors. The team launch event featured Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales as well as key members of the Yamaha Management staff and the President of Telefónica Spain.
Movistar Yamaha has revealed the 2017 Yamaha YZR-M1 in the ceremony with the new Movistar logo, the Blue core logo (Yamaha‘s new generation engine development designed to extract maximum performance and fuel economy).
On the occasion, the Nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider says, “After the winter break, the team launch is always a very exciting time for everybody, not only for us, the riders and the team, but also for the fans. Sincerely, I‘m just as happy as they are to start the new season, I have missed riding my bike. The pre-season test in Sepang will be an interesting moment, we will get a good idea of our level and it‘s also the first time I‘ll get to take the YZR-M1 out on track in its 2017 colours. This is the fourth year that Movistar will be our team‘s title sponsor. In the last three years, we enjoyed some fantastic battles and great results and this season the target remains the same: to be competitive again and fight for the victory in every race. I have a new strong teammate and I think we can have a lot of fun this season.”
Maverick Vinales, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider says, “After the test in Valencia and Malaysia I got off the bike feeling very happy because I was on the level I wanted to be at. The whole Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team can‘t wait to start the season because we know we can be at a 100% level and compete at the front. Today we revealed the bike and it looks beautiful, I wish I could start riding it right now! When I was a kid, I used to watch Valentino riding his M1 and now I‘m here at the team launch, it‘s like a dream come true! I‘m so happy and motivated and I‘m ready to give it my all. I want to thank Yamaha, Movistar and of course the team. They have welcomed me very warmly, so it is a great start to the season already. Honestly speaking, I was quite surprised by the family-feel, because on the outside you see a very serious and professional team, but as soon as I went inside the box I felt incredible. I‘m really pleased to be here, at Telefónica Headquarters in Madrid, and thanks to everyone for coming to support us. It‘s going to be a great year!”
LIN JARVIS, Managing Director, Yahama Motor Racing says, “Over the last three years we have demonstrated that our team is very competitive and our partnership with Movistar has delivered great results on and off the track. Movistar and Yamaha are both brands that have a lot of history in the MotoGP World Championship and we are proud that our collaboration is growing stronger each season. It, therefore, seemed no more than fitting to present the 2017 YZR-M1 at the home of Movistar, the Distrito Telefónica in Madrid. The bike‘s striking new livery features cleaner lines, more blue and a very strong Movistar branding on the fairing. We also unveiled the new enhanced Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team logo symbolizing the partnership between our two companies. We see today not only as the official start of the 2017 season but also the start of the next chapter with our exciting new rider line-up; it is a new beginning and so Movistar‘s slogan “We Choose to Make History” is certainly very fitting and one we will strive to live up to. We have Maverick Viñales joining us as he searches for his first MotoGP class title and Valentino Rossi, who has his eyes set on World Championship title number ten. Both are eager to reach their goals and hungry to win races and most of all have good battles at the front of the pack. With their dedication and the commitment of our engineers and team staff, I‘m confident we are in for another exciting and highly competitive season.”
Luis Miguel Gilperez, President of Telefonica Espana says, “Movistar has always been linked to sport. For Movistar, the specific case of motorcycling has been one of its fundamental axes of content and sponsorship for a long time, and we have managed to reach the top and stay there. As you all know, motorcycling is in Movistar’s DNA. Movistar and MotoGP share the same values, those of training, discipline, improvement, commitment, and teamwork. What is more, for Movistar it is a way to be closer to the public, the young people and the new talent of the sport that we have always supported. From a sporting point of view, this is the fourth season in which Movistar and Yamaha are collaborating to continue a winning project in the undisputed premier class of motorcycling. Taking stock of what has been achieved so far – World Championship Runner-up in 2014, the Triple Crown and World Runner-up Title in 2015, and Runner-up and World Team Title in 2016 – next season is expected to be even more exciting, if possible, for everyone who loves the sport. A season that we are opening with the addition of Maverick Viñales to the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team, and he, together with Valentino Rossi, will strive for great results and, above all, enjoyment.”
Source: Movistar Yamaha MotoGP
