Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is pleased to confirm the signing of an agreement with RNF Racing Ltd. The freshly branded WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team is set for a new era as part of the Yamaha line-up in 2022 and possibly 2023 and 2024.
Sepang Racing Team is rebranded RNF MotoGP Team, with former CEO of Sepang International Circuit and Team Principal Razlan Razali remaining at the helm. The team has signed a five-year deal with IRTA that sees the remodelled set-up continue participating as an Independent Team in the premier class of the FIM MotoGP World Championship until 2026.
The signed agreement between Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and RNF Racing Ltd. foresees the satellite team leasing Yamaha YZR-M1 motorcycles for 2022, with the option to extend the partnership for the 2023 and 2024 FIM MotoGP World Championship seasons.
Lin Jarvis, Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with the now rebranded RNF MotoGP Team. When Razlan Razali and the Sepang Racing Team embarked on their MotoGP adventure at the end of 2018 and the start of 2019, nobody could have expected how they would take the premier class by storm. The impressive 2019 season and exceptional 2020 season results underline the professionalism and quality of this team that will soon be renamed RNF MotoGP Team.
“The core DNA of this team remains, so we are confident to continue with them as our official supported satellite team. Moreover, Yamaha has always been clear that it wants to continue to have four bikes in total on the MotoGP grid: two bikes in the Factory Team and two bikes in the Independent team.
“We will do our best to support the newly founded RNF Racing Ltd. to achieve their goals and to provide the stepping stone for future talents to enter into the world of Yamaha in MotoGP.”
Razlan Razali, Founder and Team Principal, RNF Racing Ltd.: “We have today reached a historical milestone for the new RNF MotoGP Team. I would like to thank Yamaha for the trust and confidence given to me and the team for the upcoming season despite the changes that happened this year.
“The achievements that we have shared together in the first three years of our partnership with wins, podiums, pole positions, and awards has been memorable and motivates us towards greater heights.
“We have the experience from our past successes, supported by the same strong and passionate crew from our MotoGP garage, with a solid rider line-up, so we are set for a competitive comeback with Yamaha for the 2022 season.”
Matteo Ballarin, President of Europe Energy Group: “The MotoGP World Championship is an exclusive and international showcase. It is a special universe where the starting grid is a stage for heroes in which WITHU has found its space by sharing its values and objectives. Five years after our first entry into the world of MotoGP, today we are more enthusiastic and motivated than ever. For WITHU, this new title sponsor experience represents not only a milestone but also a new beginning and a strong incentive.
“We look to 2022 with optimism and confidence, as we are organising a team led by trained, serious and experienced managers. The support and trust of YAMAHA are and will be fundamental to face the next season and the choice of the two riders confirms the seriousness of the project and the desire to play a leading role in the prestigious international MotoGP arena. This is a dream that will now become reality and that we will share with customers and passionate guests who will be involved to discover new experiences and exclusive emotions.”
Andrea Dovizioso: “I’m really happy that finally the new WITHU YAMAHA RNF MotoGP team is official. It’s a team made up of three really professional parties and I’m really looking forward to start working with them for 2022. I’m so happy to have WITHU as the title partner of the team because Matteo is a really passionate person and it’s always nice to have this kind of motivation in a team. I’m really happy about that and to have Darryn Binder as my team-mate is something quite unique – not many riders have gone directly from Moto3 to MotoGP! I think the team have seen something interesting in him so I’m really interested too to see him on the MotoGP bike.”
Darryn Binder: “I am extremely grateful for this opportunity, as it has been a lifelong dream to race in the MotoGP category. I definitely didn’t expect to make the jump straight from Moto3 to the highest class, but I do believe I am up for the challenge and I’m ready to put in all the hard work for 2022. My target at the beginning will be just to find my feet in the big class and learn as much as possible to get stronger and stronger throughout my rookie season.
“I would like to say a really big thank you to YAMAHA and WITHU YAMAHA RNF MotoGP team for everything they have done to make this possible, as well as everyone who has been involved in getting me to this point. I’m also really happy to keep having WITHU supporting the team because from the first day I entered the team I could see how enthusiastic they were in this project. I’m now just looking forward to riding the YAMAHA YZR-M1 for the first time at the end of the season.”