MotoGP – Here is Valentino Rossi's new Yamaha

The new YZR-M1 in 2005 configuration of Team Gauloises Yamaha were presented today, in Japan, for the first time during a press conference attended by Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwrads. The reigning World Champion and his new teammate were the guests of honor at the press conference, in which Yamaha presented its sporting program for 2005, which was held in Tokyo this morning. The Team Manager, Davide Brivio, and some senior executives of the Yamaha Motor Company took the stage with the two riders to talk about Yamaha's programs in MotoGP, both for 2005 and for the years to come.

Valentino Rossi, in his second season at Yamaha, spoke about the year just ended and his goals for the season that is about to begin. “We have already done many tests in recent months. Things aren't 100% yet, but both the bike and the engine are already at a higher level than last year. It's nice to see the M1 with the definitive graphics for 2005. I hope to be able to win the title again with this new bike, but winning is never easy! I was very satisfied with winning nine races in last year's Championship and I think this could be a good target to aim for this season. I hope you will all cheer for me!”

Rossi's new teammate, Colin Edrwards, who recently turned 31, spoke about his return to Yamaha after a seven-year absence. “The last season I raced with Yamaha was 1998 in the Superbike World Championship and I'm really happy to be back. Last year I saw the value of the bike and the team so I was really excited when the offer to come to Yamaha arrived. I'm also very happy with the US race at Laguna Seca. I hope I can have a bit of an advantage on that track, but of course I will give my all in all the races.”

Team Manager, Davide Brivio, who begins his fourth season with this role in the official Yamaha team, gave his opinion on the new bike and the difficult task that the two riders will have to face. “We really like the line and design of the new bike and we are also very satisfied with the performance seen so far during the tests. It will be a very exciting season and is a great challenge for both our drivers. After this press conference we leave directly for Phillip Island where we will do the fourth test and where we hope to continue the excellent work done so far in developing the bike. Our goal right now is to be ready for the first race which will take place in about a month.”

The CEO of the Yamaha Motor Company, Tsuneji Togami, the General Manager, Masao Furusawa, and the Director of the Engineering Department, Shigeto Kitagawa – responsible for the development of the 1 YZR-M2005 – are three of the representatives of the Yamaha Motor Company who have attended this important event.

Mr. Togami began the conference by highlighting the importance of sports competitions in the company's ultimate goal of creating Kando – touching people's hearts. “With sporting activities we want to help the entire world of motorcycling, bringing these competitions closer to normal people, and we want to help raise the new generation that constitutes the future of this sport.”

Mr. Kitagawa then illustrated the four main objectives of the YZR-M1 development project for 2005 which are an improvement in the balance of the bike with regards to handling and stability, better acceleration performance, a better ratio between maximum power speeds and fuel consumption and better adaptability of the motorbike to the conditions of the different tracks. “In addition to winning the second consecutive title with one of our drivers,” he commented, “we also want to win the constructors' title with the new M1”.

Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards will now move to Phillip Island, Australia, for three days of testing which will take place from 9 to 11 March, before returning to Europe the following week for the first official IRTA tests in Barcelona.

Yamaha MotoGP