MotoGP: Yamaha Eyes Valentino Rossi's VR46 for its Satellite Team

Yamaha, once the dominant force in MotoGP, now finds itself facing challenges in the premier class. Yamaha Motor Racing's Managing Director Lin Jarvis is entrusted with improving the team's performance in MotoGP. During a recent interview, the individual clarified Yamaha's reasoning for the selection of Alex Rins over Franco Morbidelli for the 2024 season, while also shedding light on the challenges encountered by Japanese manufacturers in the MotoGP realm. Jarvis spoke on Yamaha's desire to field a satellite team, as well as the criteria they would use to choose a satellite team. He admitted that Ducati has an upper hand since they have eight motorcycles on the grid, giving them a wealth of information from which to develop upgrades. Yamaha had wanted a satellite team for a long time, but they were unable to agree on terms with RNF and hence did not sign a multi-year deal. For Yamaha, this is the first season ever without a satellite team.

Also Read: MotoGP: Frustrated Quartararo Says Yamaha Future Decision at Misano Test

Yamaha Eyes Valentino Rossi's VR46 Team

Yamaha asserts that if their bike is competitive enough, Valentino Rossi and the VR46 team will make the switch to Yamaha. This weekend's Austrian MotoGP is a big opportunity for the Mooney VR46 team to build on a great year. The team's existing contractual agreement as a satellite team for Ducati is set to continue in the next year, with no plans of termination. However, Yamaha has expressed a desire to entice the team to join their ranks for the 2025 season.

Yamaha is now concentrating on improving their package in order to get back in the game. For the Japanese manufacturer, gaining the trust of a satellite team is crucial to Yamaha's success, and they have faith in the company's future. The objective is to enhance their performance in order to recruit a satellite team in the future. Yamaha is the lone manufacturer with just two motorcycles competing this year. This trend is certain to continue into next year, with Ducati's eight motorcycles and KTM's four motorcycles set to grow.

Also Read: MotoGP: Motorsport Legend Valentino Rossi Becomes Yamaha Brand Ambassador

MotoGP: Yamaha 2023 Struggle

Yamaha has prioritised increasing the M1's top speed for the year 2023 given that they know it is their greatest weakness in comparison to Ducati's. After some preliminary winter testing, the Japanese team felt more confident about their chances. However, the beginning of the new season showed that Yamaha's early confidence was unfounded and negatively impacted the team's overall performance. And the M1's underwhelming performance was mostly due to its inability to attain its advertised top speed. Because of this, Yamaha was no longer able to maintain the same level of unique agility that had previously set it apart from competitors and given it a substantial edge.

In the standings, Quartararo is in 11th with teammate Franco Morbidelli not far behind in 12th.  Quartararo has a total of one grand prix podium, which includes the memorable third-place finish in the sprint races of the Americas GP and Dutch GP. With the end of summer vacation came renewed optimism that things would begin to improve. At Silverstone, though, Yamaha riders performed below average in terms of point totals.

Yamaha has fallen to last place in the constructors' standings, behind leader Ducati by 233 points and also trailing behind Honda by just five points. Because of their problems, Honda and Yamaha are once again a subject of debate over potential concessions to rescue the stumbling Japanese giants.

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