Yamaha host traditional Monterey Bay Aquarium party
Saturday, 19 July 2008
On Friday night the atmosphere at Yamaha US´s now traditional party in Monterey was extra special after one very important announcement in particular.
When the Yamaha Motor Racing family gathered together on Friday evening at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for their now customary annual Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix party, it was the perfect occasion for Lin Jarvis to announce the signing of Valentino Rossi on a new contract for 2009 and 2010.
The Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director made the news public at the party in the company of Masao Furusawa, Executive Officer, Engineering Operations of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd, Bob Starr from Yamaha US and of course Rossi himself.
Rossi had signed the contract earlier in the evening at the Laguna Seca circuit meaning their was an upbeat atmosphere at the aquarium gathering, which was also attended by his Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo and a host of great American names from Yamaha´s illustrious roadracing history such as Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Randy Mamola and Kenny Roberts Snr.
Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal and his satellite MotoGP riders Colin Edwards and James Toseland were also in attendance – Edwards celebrating his own 2009 contract renovation this week and Toseland entertaining the party-goers with one of his virtuoso piano performances.
