MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi is not only a BMW works driver in the GT3 scene, but is now also an official brand ambassador for Yamaha. During his visit to the Spanish Grand Prix, the agreement with his former employer was signed. On Sunday, Rossi then celebrated the Jerez victory in the Ducati box with Francesco Bagnaia.
After three world titles with Honda, Rossi switched to Yamaha in 2004 and conquered four more world titles in the premier class until 2009. At the end of 2010 he switched to Ducati, but returned to Yamaha after two unsuccessful years.
From 2013 to 2021 Rossi was vice world champion three more times. With Yamaha, the Italian won four world titles, celebrated 56 race wins and conquered a total of 142 podiums. He drove the M1 for 16 years and, until his last season, always in the factory team.
“This agreement between me and Yamaha is certainly a great feeling,” says Rossi of his new role as Yamaha Ambassador. “We’ve worked together for many years in the past, so it feels natural.”
“During my MotoGP career I rode Yamaha bikes as part of my contract. But even after I retired I’ve continued to ride Yamaha bikes because I enjoy it.”
His VR46 team has been a Ducati satellite team since 2022. Marco Bezzecchi captured Rossi’s first MotoGP win as team owner in Argentina. The contract with the Italian brand is valid up to and including 2024.
Since Yamaha has been looking for a new satellite team, VR46 has always been brought into play. But that’s not an issue at the moment, as Rossi stated in an exclusive interview with “Motorsport.com” in Jerez.
“We’ll be racing with Ducati in 2024. I’d like to see VR46 racing with Yamaha because I’m a Yamaha rider, so it would make sense,” Rossi says, but: “The problem is that Yamaha are finding a way must improve the M1.”
“We want to go into the races thinking that we can win or fight for the podium. At the moment Yamaha’s technical situation is complicated. They have the potential to improve.”
“There’s still a little time before we meet [für 2025] decide. But Ducati has really stepped up and raised the technical level since the arrival of Dall’Igna. The others have become pursuers.”
It remains to be seen how the personal cooperation between Rossi and Yamaha will develop. Various promotional and advertising activities are to be expected. The agreement was concluded for “several years”.
“We’ve always thought of Valentino as ‘family’,” says Yamaha manager Lin Jarvis. “As soon as he expressed his desire to continue riding Yamaha bikes and become a brand ambassador, we got to work to make that happen.”
Tetsu Ono, manager of Yamaha’s motorsport strategy department, emphasizes the importance Rossi brings to the Yamaha brand: “Yamaha is very proud to have Valentino as a brand ambassador, especially as the request came from him personally.”
“Having the seal of approval from a nine-time world champion is the best endorsement you can get as a motorcycle brand. It’s a testament to the product quality and culture at Yamaha. We look forward to working with him to strengthen the Yamaha brand. “