Yamaha will race in the 2023 MotoGP season with only two bikes. In the plans of the Japanese House there is Valentino Rossi.
Yamaha will only race two bikes in the 2023 MotoGP season, following their split from RNF satellite team by Razlan Razali. The Malaysian manager has decided to change manufacturers, counting on a more productive offer from Aprilia and Massimo Rivola, who (probably) offered him a 2-2, two-year contract with the possibility of renewing for another two at the end of the season 2024. From Iwata, on the other hand, a new annual renewal proposal had arrived and for RNF it didn’t make much sense, above all to propose itself to new sponsors.
Razali’s team hasn’t had it easy in terms of sponsorships, despite a thriving start with Petronas. But the Malaysian giant ended the partnership at the end of 2021, forcing the Yamaha customer team to find a new “tycoon”. WithU immediately stepped forward, but the Venetian company had to face various problems that forced it to say goodbye to the MotoGP class after just one year with the logo on the liveries of the M1s of Andrea Dovizioso (later replaced by Cal Crutchlow in the last 6 GPs) e Darryn Binder. But before the commercial separation, Razlan had already announced the new marriage with the Noale house.
Valentino Rossi in Yamaha’s plans
Yamaha was aware of the financial problems the energy company was suffering WithU, has therefore opted for a second annual renewal. The Malaysian entrepreneur preferred a more solid collaboration, proposed to him by Aprilia. To reveal some background of the failed negotiation between Yamaha and RNF is the managing director Lin Jarvis on the columns of Speedweek.com. “The financial situation in the RNF team was very, very delicate. However we offered them to continue working on the basis of annual contracts, but Razlan wanted more and he got it”.
What is behind Iwata’s decision to renew year after year with the RNF satellite team? In this way, the departure of the team seems obvious…”Yamaha only wanted to extend the partnership for one year“Lin Jarvis remarked. Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team is probably in the sights of the Japanese giant. “It’s too early to talk about details. But Yamaha would like to get back to having a satellite team in MotoGP as soon as possible“.
But Mooney VR46 Racing he has a contract with Ducati until the end of the 2024 season and it will be difficult to convince the Tavullia team to give up a competitive bike like the Desmosedici… Yamaha wants to try, but the mission won’t be easy at all.
