Yamaha and Movistar join forces in five-year title sponsorship deal

Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd has announced that its Factory MotoGP™ team has been renamed Movistar Yamaha MotoGP ahead of the 2014 season.

With a deal having been struck between Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd and Movistar parent company Telefonica de España, S.A, the extensive five-year contract has resulted in the renaming of the team carrying Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.

A new-look livery for the YZR-M1 bikes will be unveiled on the Wednesday before the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix, with Movistar branding also being applied to various assets such as riders’ leathers, team uniforms, the garages, trucks and hospitality units.

"This is a big day for the sport," comments Lin Jarvis, the Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing. "We are delighted to be able to welcome the Movistar brand back into the world of MotoGP™ in such spectacular fashion. Dedicated fans of motorcycle racing will know that Movistar has a strong history in the sport and in the past they supporting many talented young riders who later evolved to be the top stars of the MotoGP™ class. We are therefore honoured that they chose Yamaha as their partner with which to re-enter motorcycle racing.

"The five-year partnership provides an incredibly stable platform for both parties to fully exploit the relationship and make plans, not just in the short-term but also strategically over a longer period. Their long-term commitment is also a strong sign of confidence in the sport and provides reassurance to the other sponsors and partners involved in our team."

The new partnership between Yamaha and Movistar will run until at least the end of the 2018 MotoGP™ World Championship season.

Also for 2014, Movistar has engaged in a brand-new five-year television deal to broadcast MotoGP™ to Spanish television audiences on its Movistar TV channel.