MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP READY FOR TITLE QUEST 2022
Sepang, Malaysia, February 4, 2022
Today, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team held their online team presentation to officially open their 2022 season. Led by two young and competitive riders, Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli, the team looks forward to the opener of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship in Qatar in March.
To set the tone for the upcoming MotoGP season, the newly appointed General Manager Motorsports Development Division of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. Takahiro Sumi, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Principal and Yamaha Motor Racing General Manager Lin Jarvis, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Director Massimo Meregalli, Factory Yamaha riders Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli, and Mitch Covington, Monster Energy Senior Vice President of Sports Marketing, shared their thoughts on the team’s past accomplishments as well as its potential for 2022.
The color scheme of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP bikes remains the same for 2022, with the team’s YZR-M1, box and riders’ leathers featuring a color gradient from ‘Monster Energy Black’ to ‘Yamaha Factory Racing Blue’. The perfect blend of Yamaha’s aesthetic and Monster Energy’s instantly recognizable claw branding is also featured in the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team logo and on the team uniforms.
Yamaha has a long-term global alliance with the team’s title sponsor, Monster Energy Company, based on their shared passion for racing. A multi-year title sponsorship agreement with the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP team was signed in the summer of 2018 and came naturally as Monster Energy Company acquired several Yamaha teams (including the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP team since 2013) and riders (including Quartararo ) sponsors and Morbidelli) in various racing classes.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP is also pleased to announce that the bike will continue to carry the slogans of Thai Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Yamaha Motor Philippines and PT Yamaha Indonesia Motor Manufacturing throughout the 2022 racing season, starting with the first two IRTA testing took place February 5-6 in Sepang, Malaysia and February 11-13 in Mandalika, Indonesia.
The team also welcomes its new official sponsors in 2022 with open arms, including:
– MSI, the most trusted name in gaming and eSports;
– Debem, an innovative company specializing in the design and manufacture of industrial pumps for very demanding environments;
– Tanida, a world leader in sand casting;
– Pont Grup, a company specializing in insurance brokerage services for individuals with more than 25 years of experience;
– Capit, a leader in the manufacture of professional tire warmers since 1996;
– Axalta, a global coatings company focused on providing innovative colorful and sustainable solutions to its customers. Your logos will grace team assets.
Additionally, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team is pleased to confirm the continuation of its relationship with numerous official sponsors and official partners including:
OFFICIAL SPONSORS
– Monster Energy Company
– Eneos
– Blue Core
– Yamalube
– Akrapovic
– Yamaha Indonesia Motor Manufacturing/Progress
– Yamaha Motor Philippines/MIO
– MSI
– Thailand Yamaha Motor/Beyond the Limits
– Oakley
– Alpinestars
– VR46
– bLUcRU
– Gilles tools
– RCB
– Furukawa Electrics
– We must
– Tanida
– DID
– NGK spark plugs
– BMC air filter
– Group bridge
– Chapter
– 2D
– BETA tools
-Axalta
– Yamaha Corporation (Yamaha Music)
– Michelin
OFFICIAL PARTNERS
– Alpinestars
– Siemens LMS
– BLS
– BETA tools
– GOM
– RCM
– Toyota Material Handling
– 3M Peltor
– ParkingGO
– To bend
– synlab
– flight bench
HOSPITALITY PARTNERS
– Handkerchief
– Ca’ dei Frati
– Fabbri Artisan Pastificio
– Butcher Belli
– Chianti Oil Company
For 2022, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team continues its alliance with VR46 Racing Apparel. They will make the official team apparel, all featuring a distinctive VR46 Racing Apparel logo. Identical official teamwear products will be available for sale to Yamaha fans throughout the world dealer network and track merchandise outlets.
Additionally, eagle-eyed fans will see Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP staff and riders donning new face masks from BLS. The team is delighted to have them as a new Official Partner as the team continually strives to improve its safety procedures to keep drivers and staff safe and healthy throughout the championship season amid the ongoing global pandemic.
In addition, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team continues to support Yamaha’s bLU cRU program, encouraging a younger generation of road riders to follow their dream of becoming the next star in motorcycle racing. Quartararo and Morbidelli are ambassadors of the program and will serve as role models for all young Yamaha talent.
With the upcoming season developing well and currently expected to total 21 GP rounds, Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Test Team rider Cal Crutchlow will join Quartararo and Morbidelli at the MotoGP Official Test in Sepang as Yamaha puts all hands on deck to launch 2022 campaign on the right foot.
TAKAHIRO SUMI
GM, MOTORSPORTS DEVELOPMENT DIV., YAMAHA MOTOR CO., LTD
First of all I would like to say “Thank you for your support” to all Yamaha MotoGP fans around the world. In 2021, YMC’s motorsport development department worked closely with riders and teams to submit Yamaha’s bid for the MotoGP World Championship title. The result was our first Premier Class Trophy since 2015, a great achievement! We dedicate the victory to our loyal supporters. We start the new season with the mentality of a challenger and want to make our fans proud of us again. We have an exciting rider line-up with Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli in the factory team and the highly experienced Andrea Dovizioso and new talent Darryn Binder in the WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP team, so we are confident that our fans will be able to watch many exciting races again this year to look forward to.
LIN JARVIS
MANAGING DIRECTOR, YAMAHA MOTOR RACING
Last year’s title win was the best way to give back to Monster Energy Company, to show our gratitude for their continued support and belief in our team. This year we begin our tenth year with Monster Energy as our sponsor and our fourth season with Monster Energy as our title sponsor. They are fully immersed and committed to motorsport and our strong global alliance makes our brands instantly connected. Winning the title in 2021 with Monster Energy as title sponsor was the absolute highlight of our successful partnership to date. The same applies to our many other official team sponsors, partners and suppliers. Their dedication and love for MotoGP makes it possible for us to compete in the premier league of motorcycle racing during this ongoing global pandemic in the third MotoGP season. Our goals this year are to win the Drivers’ title again and have both drivers strong throughout the year to try and win the Constructors’ and Teams’ titles, even though we know it’s going to be difficult given everyone else’s very tough competition Factories will be difficult. With Fabio and Franky piloting our M1s, supported by our world-class team and engineers in Japan and Europe, we look forward to beginning testing to prepare for the 2022 MotoGP season.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
TEAM LEADER
First of all, let me say that we are of course very happy to have won the 2021 World Cup with Fabio last year. But being the reigning world champion comes with a bit of extra pressure. We are very aware that it is relatively easy to win a championship once compared to trying to win it twice in a row. So it’s hot! We’re all starting from scratch again and have a long season ahead of us with 21 GPs on the calendar. We cannot afford to dwell on the past too much: we need to focus on the task ahead and move forward if we want to finish first again. Team morale is great and the atmosphere has never been better. The new crew members who joined us last year got along incredibly well with the other employees. As Team Director, I couldn’t ask for a better crew to start this next title quest. We are also very lucky to have such a strong driver line-up. Both Fabio and Franco are undisputed talents and their riding style also suits our bike. One of them will be looking to confirm his dominance of the MotoGP field while the other is keen to show his full potential now that he’s nearing full recovery from his injury so we’re ready to fight.
2021 MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo. Photo courtesy of Monster Energy Yamaha.
FABIO QUARTARARO
The winter break was quite long but to be honest I feel like I’ve been busy the whole time. There were many events I was able to attend and of course the training went on as normal – so overall it was pretty busy but in a good way. I’m looking forward to starting the new season and riding and improving. We won the title last year and that’s great. Nobody can take that away from me, but from the first day of riding it doesn’t matter anymore. Last year’s title win is now behind us, we have to concentrate on this year’s championship. Last year we didn’t do much pre-season testing due to the pandemic. This year I already have a year’s experience with the factory team, so we know how to work well together. We know our strengths and where we can improve, that helps us in the tests in Sepang and Mandalika.
Franco Morbidelli. Photo courtesy of Monster Energy Yamaha.
FRANCO MORBIDELLI
Last year was all about showing mental toughness while working on improving my physical strength. Coming back from my knee surgery wasn’t easy, but the work I put in last year will stand me in good stead at the start of this season. We already have some data to work with and I already know the bike and the team. I’ve always had a good feeling on the Yamaha, but this M1 is so smooth. I can’t wait to ride the bike in 2022 now that my knee is in better shape. I’m very excited to see how it goes. I’m also looking forward to seeing the whole team back in testing. The atmosphere in the team was really nice last year, so let’s see what we can do in winter testing.