Rossi becomes Yamaha brand ambassador

2 May

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi has signed a deal to become a Yamaha brand ambassador

The nine-time grand prix motorcycle world champion joined Yamaha in 2004 and helped transform the Japanese brand's appearance by winning back-to-back championships.

Rossi would add two more premier class championships with Yamaha in 2008 and 2009, bringing his total to seven, before concluding his MotoGP tenure with the manufacturer at the end of 2021.

After two disappointing seasons with Ducati in 2011 and 2012, the Italian had two stints with Yamaha, first from 2004 to 2009 and then from 2013 to the end of 2021.

Rossi is the most successful grand prix competitor in Yamaha's history, having won 56 of his 89 MotoGP victories with the manufacturer.

Rossi has competed in the GT World Challenge Europe with WRT and owned the MotoGP team VR46 since his retirement in 2021.

Rossi joined Ducati for his team's debut in 2022, although it has been linked to a switch to Yamaha as it seeks to have a satellite squad again after RNF Racing switched to Aprilia for 2023.

The VR46 Ducati contract continues through the end of 2024, whereas Yamaha's Lin Jarvis stated at the Americas Grand Prix that it was unlikely the Japanese manufacturer would have a customer team in 2019.

Nevertheless, Rossi's decision to become a Yamaha brand ambassador could be viewed as the initial stages towards a VR46 satellite partnership in 2025.

“Of course, this is a great moment for Yamaha and it‘s also an emotional development for the fans, who I‘m sure miss Valentino‘s presence in MotoGP since he retired from his successful career,” Jarvis said.

“Valentino and his M1 shared a special bond. His arrival at Yamaha was the catalyst that completely changed our MotoGP racing programme to the point that Valentino and Yamaha almost became synonymous.

“Together we achieved many wins, podiums, and four championships, and then there are also the moments behind the scenes: the hard work but also the fun parts and the shared passion for racing.

“We always considered Valentino as ’family‘, and as soon as he expressed his desire to keep using Yamaha bikes and to become a Brand Ambassador, we went to work to make it happen. We are thrilled that Valentino is now officially our ambassador.”