Yamaha MotoGP Team Unveils 2017 Team and YZR-M1 Race Bike

The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team grabbed the spotlight in Madrid today as it presented its new rider line-up, 2017 YZR-M1 livery, 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.

The Italy-based team travelled to Madrid during the last week of its winter break before heading overseas for the first official IRTA MotoGP pre-season test of 2017 in Sepang. During this on-track outing, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP riders Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales will help Yamaha's engineers fine-tune the development work of the YZR-M1 that was carried through during the off-season. The Valencia test already showed great promise for this formidable team.

Nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi impressed chasing the premier class trophy in the last three years and is determined to compete once more at the front this year with his fans cheering him on.

Last year Rossi meant business right from the start of the season and in Argentina he climbed the rostrum for the first time. Though struck by external circumstances on occasion, The Doctor never lessened his attack and went on to secure nine further podium finishes, with wins in Jerez and Catalunya, remaining a key protagonist in the 2016 challenge until the overseas leg at the end of the year. His and his teammate‘s consistent drive brought Yamaha its seventh FIM MotoGP Team Title.

Young Spanish talent Maverick Viñales is a fresh face in the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team. He joins the factory crew after gaining two years of experience in the premier class. His 2016 season highlights included a superb win at Silverstone and three third places, in France, Japan and Australia, allowing him to finish fourth in the final standing. He followed up his strong end of the season with a stunning debut on the YZR-M1 at the Valencia test, topping the time sheets both days.

The ceremony saw the 2017 Yamaha YZR-M1 revealed in its new colors with a refreshed livery. Besides the new Movistar logo, the Blue Core logo (Yamaha's new generation engine development designed to extract maximum performance and fuel economy) is added as a new design element on the bike, while the deepened Yamaha blue gives the bike a chic finish.

Further revelations include the new Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team logo. Its new design is a testament of how much value the team assigns to the Telefónica and Yamaha collaboration and puts the Movistar‘s ’M‘ in a more prominent role. This sentiment is also reflected in the YZR-M1‘s 2017 livery, which features the new Movistar-logo on either side of the fairing and the front of the bike.