The Movistar Yamaha Team have unveiled the new YZR-M1 Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales will challenge for the 2017 MotoGP World Championship with in a presentation in Barcelona today.
The 2017 YZR-M1 bears a striking resemblance to last year’s bike, with the livery only changing slightly. The bottom of the fairing is now blue in line with the rest of the bodywork, whilst the green Movistar logo has been altered a little.
Of course, the key difference with this bike is its lack of wings. Banned for this year, it is expected that the manufacturers will be looking at other means of generating downforce. With that said, the fairings on display at the launch will likely never be raced, with their new ones being kept hidden until testing gets underway at the end of the month.
This season marks a new chapter in Yamaha’s history. After nine years together, Jorge Lorenzo and the team have parted ways, and in his place comes his young countryman Vinales. The former Suzuki rider is the hottest property in Grand Prix racing, and comes into his maiden year with Yamaha brimming with confidence after topping both days of the Valencia test last November.
Speaking at the team launch, last year’s British Grand Prix winner said of his new surroundings: “It feels incredible. Honestly, I feel really good in the team. I’m really motivated, I’ve been signed up with Yamaha to do the objective and this year I’m working really hard and I’m doing everything I can do to be the best Maverick that I can be.
“Last year, when I was following the Yamaha, the bike was really fast. On the Yamaha I just tried to ride like I know how to, and the bike, for me, was really good. I adapt really fast and I was quite surprised that I could go so fast in just a few days.”
Rossi, now entering his 22nd year of Grand Prix racing, was very complimentary of his new teammate and expects the pair to bring Yamaha great success in 2017.
“In our team I get used to having a strong teammate, (like) before with Jorge (Lorenzo),” last year’s world championship runner-up said.
“Maverick impressed me very much already from the first day. Sincerely, I prefer that he need a bit more time to go fast. But, for me, he is already very strong and I think that we can make a good job together to improve the bike and to try to bring the bike to the podium every week.”
The nine-time world champion has already completed several days on the 2017 M1 in Valencia and in Malaysia at the end of last year. Though this bike isn’t the revolution originally touted in 2016, it has evolved in a number of areas and the motorcycle’s potential is plain to see for the Italian.
“I had the first touch in Valencia, after the race. After we moved to Sepang where we had more kilometres, more work on the new bike,” he said.
“We discovered a very good potential, it looks like we can be stronger. For sure it’s important to work well in the three tests before the first race, where Yamaha will also bring new stuff and try to arrive ready in Qatar on 26 March. But the first impression is very positive.”
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