Today, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team broadcasts a virtual reality team presentation to open its 2021 campaign officially.
The launch event’s theme echoes a team’s mindset spearheaded by two young and competitive riders.
Maverick Viñales and Fabio Quartararo. Ahead of the 2021 MotoGP World Championship kick-off in Qatar in March.
Gerno di Lesmo (Italy), 15th February 2021
This year, we are marking Yamaha’s sixtieth anniversary of its first-ever Grand Prix endeavour. The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team is raring to start the 2021 World Championship action.
The team found an innovative way to open its doors to the fans and media. Set the tone for a new season full of endless possibilities and tackle a new rider line-up.
Using the latest technology, they gave a virtual reality presentation to show off their eager young riders Maverick Viñales and Fabio Quartararo.
The 2021 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP YZR-M1s and the team’s close relationship with title sponsor Monster Energy Company.
The team presentation was led by renowned TV F1 presenter Federica Masolin, an avid MotoGP fan.
She along with Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.’s MotoGP Group Leader Takahiro Sumi, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Principal.
Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director Lin Jarvis, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Director Massimo Meregalli had a chat.
Factory Yamaha riders Maverick Viñales and Fabio Quartararo, and Monster Energy’s Senior Vice President of Sports Marketing Mitch Covington.
Before showing the 2021 Yamaha YZR-M1s, inviting the participants to share their thoughts on the upcoming MotoGP action.
Vinales
Viñales joined the Factory Yamaha crew in 2017 and immediately took two back-to-back GP victories.
He went on to third place in the rider standings that year. Though the following season proved to be tough, the Spaniard kept his motivation high and won Phillip Island’s race.
He finished 2018 in fourth place overall, just five points behind his teammate in the third position.
In 2019, he scored two further Grand Prix victories, one in Assen and one in Sepang. And collected the overall bronze medal once more at the end of the season.
2020 was another challenging year. Though the Spaniard was in contention for the championship title until two races before the end, he ultimately finished in sixth place.
Quartararo
Quartararo is a new entry to the Yamaha Factory Team. Still, he is already a household name amongst MotoGP fans. Thanks to his successful years as part of the Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team.
He scored seven podiums in his MotoGP debut year 2019 (five-second places and two third places).To end his first season on a YZR-M1 in fifth place, earning him the Rookie of the Year title.
The young Frenchman started 2020 with a bang too, securing his first premier class win at Round 1 in Jerez. And he repeated his dominant performance the following week at the same track.
His third victory came in Catalunya, but he could not put his mark on the end of the season. He finished eighth in the overall 2020 standings.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP bike remains the same for 2021. The team’s YZR-M1, the pit box. And the riders’ leathers are sporting a ‘Monster Energy black’ to ‘Yamaha Factory Racing blue’ gradient.
Yamaha
The perfect blend between Yamaha’s aesthetic and Monster Energy’s instantly recognisable claw branding. Comes represented in the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team logo and the team uniforms.
Yamaha has a long-term global alliance with the team’s title sponsor, Monster Energy Company, based on their mutual passion for racing.
A multiple-year title-sponsor agreement with the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team was signed in the summer of 2018.
As Monster Energy Company sponsors multiple Yamaha teams (among them the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP team since 2013). And riders (including Viñales and Quartararo) in various racing classes.
Team
The team is also pleased to announce that throughout the 2021 racing season the bike will continue to feature the slogans of Thai Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
And Yamaha Motor Philippines, Inc., starting from the extended Qatar Official Test held on 6th-7th March and 10th-12th March 2021.
Newly confirmed Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Test Team rider Cal Crutchlow will be joining Viñales and Quartararo at the Losail International Circuit.
After a seven-year interval, the vastly experienced premier class rider will return to riding the YZR-M1 on 5th March 2021 in the Shakedown Test.
With the 2021 season shaping up nicely. Currently projected to count 19 GP rounds.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP is delighted to confirm the continuation of its relationship with numerous sponsors and partners.
via press release
