The Yamaha Motor Company has announced a five-year agreement with Spanish telecommunications company Telefónica for its Movistar brand to assume title sponsorship of the Japanese firm’s factory team in the MotoGP motorcycling series.
The team carrying leading riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi has been renamed Movistar Yamaha MotoGP ahead of the 2014 season. Movistar will benefit from extensive branding on riders’ leathers, team uniforms, garages trucks and hospitality units along with the bikes themselves.
Running until the end of the 2018 MotoGP World Championship season, with the option for further extension, the deal with Yamaha runs alongside Movistar’s new five-year agreement to broadcast MotoGP in Spain on its Movistar TV platform.
Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing, said: “This is a big day for the sport. Dedicated fans of motorcycle racing will know that Movistar has a strong history in the sport and in the past they supporting many talented young riders who later evolved to be the top stars of the MotoGP class. We are therefore honoured that they chose Yamaha as their partner with which to re-enter motorcycle racing.
“The five-year partnership provides an incredibly stable platform for both parties to fully exploit the relationship and make plans, not just in the short-term but also strategically over a longer period. Their long-term commitment is also a strong sign of confidence in the sport and provides reassurance to the other sponsors and partners involved in our team.”