MotoGP – Camel Yamaha, here we go

Written, rewritten and reserved in every possible way, for a piece of news that causes a stir, but in its essence it is not clear why. Based on objective facts, it is just a change of sponsor: Camel, after abandoning Honda and the impossibility of continuing the partnership with Max Biaggi (the well-known “Camel Kawasaki” project), will dress the two official Yamaha YZR M1s of Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards for a sum of around 18 million euros (as they say, more money, less money). A "side" note on the 2006 MotoGP compared to more important news, such as the abandonment of the Pons team, the development of the 800cc, what the future of the two-stroke in 125 and 250 will be and so on. Yet it seems to be the key topic of this 2006, for what it causes immediately (Yamaha painted yellow, Rossi who continues to promote tobacco multinationals even though he hates doing so and in 2007 he will have Marlboro red), and for the controversies it will provoke in the future.

Yes, because the agreement has now been finalized in recent days (the official press release is expected next week, even if the wording "The Camel Yamaha Factory Racing 2006 Media website”, despite the secrecy and confidentiality, we are in MotoGP...) leads to inevitable discussions about Camel passing indirectly from Biaggi to Rossi as if nothing had happened. As mentioned, what would be surprising? How many sponsors have we seen slink from one brand to another at any one time in the history of MotoGP? Why can't I talk about it so much? Perhaps because Camel has succeeded in what Marlboro or Telefonica have attempted in the past by finding themselves faced with a “Sponsor? Go elsewhere”, and it's not that they had less money than JTI...

Maybe because now for Max Biaggi, who still doesn't officially have a place in the Superbike World Championship, it's the usual "After the damage, the insult". To put it in a Roman accent, I believe you. Those who he defined, on his official website, as "My friends from Camel", go to the enemy. Damn, what a blow.

To tell the truth, the one who made the coup, the coup, is Camel itself, which will increase visibility in an incredible way, and can be said to be the only company capable of having sponsored in its history first Schumacher (benetton times in F1) and then Rossi. Mostly, taking it away from the competition of Gauloises… Which among other things, has already made it known, after the divorce with the Three Diapasons, “Altadis recalls that Yamaha is prevented from being sponsored by competing brands for the 2006 season“, predicting legal battles that not even the formidable Santi Licheri would resolve with a smile. Here we are, this is why “Camel Yamaha” causes such a stir, “my friends”…

Alessio Piana