The various representatives from Yamaha, Petronas and the Sepang International Circuit team gave a special Press Conference at the GoPro British Grand Prix on Friday, to confirm their rider linup across all three classes next season. So at this stage, what do we know?
The riders
In Moto3™, it will be John McPhee (CIP – Green Power) and current rider Ayumu Sasaki. Khairul Idham Pawi (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) will be the solo part of the Moto2™ structure, while in MotoGP ™, Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) will line up alongside current Moto2™ star Fabio Quartararo (+ Ego Speed Up Racing).
The bike
It will, of course, be a Yamaha YZR-M1, but Lin Jarvis enlightened us more as to what specs each rider will be using in the premier class during the press conference. Morbidelli will have what was described by Jarvis as an 'A' spec bike, which will start out as the same bike both Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) and teammate Maverick Viñales will use. Quartararo will be on a ‘B’ spec bike.
The staff
Johan Stigefelt: Current Team Manager of the Sepang International Circuit in the Moto3™ categories, will oversee all projects. From Moto3™ to MotoGP™, via Moto2 ™ and MotoE ™, Stigefelt will take on the role of 'Team Director'.
Wilco Zeelenberg: The Dutchman, who currently serves as 'Rider Performance Analyst' with Viñales, will be at the helm of the new MotoGP™ team.