Team History

Yamaha Factory Racing is Yamaha's wholly owned full-Factory Team in MotoGP. The team was founded in 1999 following the retirement of Wayne Rainey, who had run a Factory-supported team in the 500cc class for the previous two years. A new company, Yamaha Motor Racing, was set up in the Netherlands to manage all but the technical side of Yamaha's international racing activities and to run the team.

In 2005 Yamaha Motor Racing as a company completed the move from the Netherlands in order to create a single Yamaha MotoGP European operation in Italy, strengthening and centralizing the management of the team and all MotoGP operations. Although responsibility for the technical aspects of MotoGP remains predominantly at Yamaha's Technology Development Division in Japan, a number of Japanese engineering staff complete the European MotoGP set-up.

The team is based in Gerno di Lesmo, close to Monza, as are the logistics and the engine management sectors. This facility was re-built during 2008 and a new, state-of-the-art facility was opened giving the team a superb new headquarters with all technical, logistical, managerial and communications departments under one roof.

Lin Jarvis is Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing Srl and Masahiko Nakajima is the Team Director for the Fiat Yamaha Team. Davide Brivio is Team Manager for Valentino Rossi's side of the garage whilst Wilco Zeelenberg joins the team in 2010 to fulfill the same role for Jorge Lorenzo.

Since the arrival of Valentino Rossi in 2004, the team's success has further accelerated its accomplishments. 2010 promises to be yet another great year for the team as Valentino Rossi returns (for possible his last contracted year) along with the very talented Jorge Lorenzo who enters his third year in the premier MotoGP class. Below are the accomplishment starting back from 1999. 

Yamaha Factory Team | Statistics Timeline

2009
Valentino Rossi (ITA) - 1st in MotoGP World Championship, 6 race wins
Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) - 2nd in MotoGP World Championship, 4 race wins

2008
Valentino Rossi (ITA) - 1st in MotoGP World Championship, 9 race wins
Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) - 4th in MotoGP World Championship, 1 race win
Team Director - Masahiko Nakajima

2007
Valentino Rossi (ITA) - 3rd in MotoGP World Championship, 3 race wins
Colin Edwards (USA) - 9th in MotoGP World Championship
Team Director - Davide Brivio

2006
Valentino Rossi (ITA) - 2nd in MotoGP World Championship, 5 race wins
Colin Edwards (USA) - 7th in MotoGP World Championship
Team Director - Davide Brivio

2005
Valentino Rossi (ITA) - 1st in MotoGP World Championship, 11 race wins
Colin Edwards (USA) - 4th in MotoGP World Championship
Yamaha Factory Team - 1st in MotoGP Team World Championship
Team Director - Davide Brivio

2004
Valentino Rossi (ITA) - 1st in MotoGP World Championship, 9 race wins
Carlos Checa (SPA) - 7th in MotoGP World Championship
Yamaha Factory Team - 1st in MotoGP Team World Championship
Team Director - Davide Brivio

2003
Carlos Checa (SPA) - 7th in MotoGP World Championship
Marco Melandri (ITA) - 15th in MotoGP World Championship
Team Director - Davide Brivio

2002
Max Biaggi (ITA) - 2nd in MotoGP World Championship, 2 race wins
Carlos Checa (SPA) - 5th in MotoGP World Championship
Team Director - Davide Brivio

2001
Max Biaggi (ITA) - 2nd in 500cc World Championship, 3 race wins
Carlos Checa (SPA) - 6th in 500cc World Championship
Team Director - Lin Jarvis

2000
Max Biaggi (ITA) - 3rd in 500cc World Championship, 2 race wins
Carlos Checa (SPA) - 6th in 500cc World Championship
Team Director - Lin Jarvis

1999
Max Biaggi (ITA) - 4th in 500cc World Championship, 2 race wins
Carlos Checa (SPA) - 7th in 500cc World Championship
Team Director - Lin Jarvis