Valentino Rossi | 2016 MotoGP Livery
Nine-time world champion Rossi had racing fans all over the world cheering in 2015 thanks to his impressive season. He made clear he meant business right at the first round in Qatar, which he won. ’The Doctor‘ went on to secure eleven more consecutive podium finishes and topped the standings for most of the season. In total Rossi only missed out on the podium three times through 2015 and was a more than deserving runner-up, with just a five-point difference to his teammate.
“It may be my 17th season in MotoGP‘s premier class, but the start of the season is always exciting for me. I have a very special relationship with my YZR-M1 and the launch of the team is like unwrapping a late Christmas present! When you‘re doing the team presentation, you know that the start of the season is just around the corner.
“I had a very strong season last year and my hunger to win has only grown since then. Finishing second two years in a row shows how consistently strong my riding and the Yamaha team is and this year we‘re going to raise our level even further. Yamaha has put in a lot of effort during the winter to get the bike in top shape, and I trained strenuously to be ready to start work at the first test in Sepang. We are competing against the best riders and teams in the world, so we‘ll have to push to the maximum every step of the way, starting with pre-season testing.
“The 2016 livery is really eye-catching and I like it a lot, seeing the bike only made me want to ride it more, but unfortunately I have to wait a little longer… I look forward to starting work with my team again. Like last year, we will give our all to achieve the best possible results. It will be interesting to see how we get on with the new ECU software and the Michelin tyres, I‘m confident that we can make it another great year and will be able to challenge for victory.”
