ROSSI & YAMAHA TOGETHER FOR 2007 AND 2008 Yamaha Motor Company Ltd and Valentino Rossi will continue to race together until the end of the 2008 season. The next two seasons will see Rossi ride as part of Yamaha’s Official Factory Team, with which he has already won two MotoGP World Championship titles since joining the Factory in 2004. The Italian, who turns 28 this month, has won 25 Grand Prix during his three seasons with Yamaha and currently stands third in the all-time Grand Prix winners list. Rossi, who is spearheading the rider development of Yamaha’s new 800cc motorcycle in the run-up to the new MotoGP season, will be back in action next week for Yamaha’s second test of the year in Sepang, Malaysia. Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, commented “We are thrilled to confirm that our partnership with Valentino will continue for a fifth year in 2008, and it’s especially good to have completed all contract negotiations before the start of the rapidly approaching 2007 racing season. This now leaves Valentino free to concentrate solely on the job in hand winning back the World Championship! The past three years with Valentino have been a huge success for the Yamaha brand worldwide, Valentino is a great champion and there is no doubt in our minds that he remains the best possible person to continue to lead Yamaha’s MotoGP effort for the foreseeable future.” “I’m very happy I renewed the contract with Yamaha until the end of 2008 so now I can just concentrate on racing this season” said Rossi. “I think that last year, when we fought back from what seemed an impossible situation to come so close to taking the title, showed what a fantastic team we are and this is why I want to stay with Yamaha. The past three years with Yamaha have been very positive and this is why I am pleased to stay. The atmosphere in our garage is always relaxed and happy and I think that this is something very special and difficult to find. I have great faith in Yamaha and I am very excited about my future and the future of the 800cc bike with them. We are ready to challenge with the new 800cc and now this agreement gives us the chance to launch this challenge for the next two years”. Davide Brivio, Team Director of Yamaha Factory Racing, commented: “During the last three seasons we have won on our debut with Valentino in 2004, dominated in 2005 and lost in 2006: to extend the contract for a further year at the end of a difficult season like the last one is the greatest demonstration of the trust Valentino has placed in this Team. This is the great motivation for everyone; Valentino, the engineers, the mechanics, all the staff and, of course, all those who, like me, have lived and continue to live through the victories and the defeats so intensely. We will continue to enjoy ourselves on track and to provide enjoyment for the huge numbers of passionate fans of two-wheeled sport; together we will look forward to the next two seasons with great energy.” More, from a press release issued by Dorna Communications: Rossi continues in MotoGP for next two seasons Thursday 1st February In a statement released today, Yamaha announced the continuation of their agreement with Valentino Rossi until the end of the 2008 season. The five-time MotoGP World Champion, who turns 28 this month, has won 2 titles and 25 Grands Prix during his three seasons with Yamaha and currently stands third in the all-time Grand Prix winners list. The move will delight MotoGP fans, who will be given the opportunity to see the charismatic star pitting his skills against the new generation of MotoGP heroes for at least two more seasons. This year he attempts the unprecedented goal of becoming MotoGP World Champion on an 800cc machine, to add to his 500cc and 990cc triumphs, with the maximum cylinder capacity for the premier class being reduced this season. The chance to see Rossi battling against 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden, Rookie of the Year Dani Pedrosa and the multitude of talented riders in the premier class is one not to be missed. ‘The Doctor’ as he is affectionately known by the MotoGP faithful, is a proud winner of seven world titles in total. He took a title in both the 125cc and 250cc World Championships with Aprilia, before he moved up to the premier class with Honda where he won three MotoGP crowns before his move to Yamaha. The flamboyant Italian’s rise to the pinnacle of the sport has come hand in hand with MotoGP’s growth in popularity over the last few years, which has seen television audiences and circuit crowds significantly increase. For Rossi, the extension of the deal for this season signed at Mugello in 2006 will enable him to continue with a team for which he feels great affinity, “I’m very happy I renewed the contract with Yamaha until the end of 2008 so now I can just concentrate on racing this season,” he declared. “I think that last year, when we fought back from what seemed an impossible situation to come so close to taking the title, showed what a fantastic team we are and this is why I want to stay with Yamaha. The past three years with Yamaha have been very positive and this is why I am pleased to stay. The atmosphere in our garage is always relaxed and happy and I think that this is something very special and difficult to find.” “I have great faith in Yamaha and I am very excited about my future and the future of the 800cc bike with them. We are ready to challenge with the new 800cc and now this agreement gives us the chance to launch this challenge for the next two years.” Rossi will be back on track next week at Sepang as the factory team continue their development of the new 800cc M1. Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing: “We are thrilled to confirm that our partnership with Valentino will continue for a fifth year in 2008, and it’s especially good to have completed all contract negotiations before the start of the rapidly approaching 2007 racing season. This now leaves Valentino free to concentrate solely on the job in hand winning back the World Championship! The past three years with Valentino have been a huge success for the Yamaha brand worldwide, Valentino is a great champion and there is no doubt in our minds that he remains the best possible person to continue to lead Yamaha’s MotoGP effort for the foreseeable future.” Davide Brivio, Team Director of Yamaha Factory Racing: “During the last three seasons we have won on our debut with Valentino in 2004, dominated in 2005 and lost in 2006: to extend the contract for a further year at the end of a difficult season like the last one is the greatest demonstration of the trust Valentino has placed in this Team. This is the great motivation for everyone; Valentino, the engineers, the mechanics, all the staff and, of course, all those who, like me, have lived and continue to live through the victories and the defeats so intensely. We will continue to enjoy ourselves on track and to provide enjoyment for the huge numbers of passionate fans of two-wheeled sport; together we will look forward to the next two seasons with great energy.”