Lorenzo agrees two year Yamaha deal
Added on Monday, October 4th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Lorenzo agrees two year Yamaha deal
Jorge Lorenzo has signed a new two year deal with Fiat Yamaha, keeping him with the factory team until the end of 2012.
The Spanish rider, who needs just 31 points to secure the MotoGP rider’s championship, was the last remaining of the “big four” to have confirmed his future beyond the end of the season but penned a two year contract ahead of yesterday’s Japanese Grand Prix.
The deal means that Lorenzo will partner American Ben Spies at Fiat Yamaha next season, who has stepped up to the factory team from Tech 3.
“My first choice was always to stay here with Yamaha and I am very glad that this will happen,” claimed Lorenzo. “I feel happy here; I have good people around me, a strong relationship with Yamaha and a great bike.
“I want to say thanks again to Lin Jarvis, who has always supported me. Now we are focused on winning the championship but I am already excited about next season. I know that Ben and I can do a great job for Yamaha and I want to thank them for their belief in me.”
Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing Lin Jarvis added: “We are extremely happy that we have reached an agreement with Jorge to remain a Factory Yamaha rider for 2011 and 2012. Since he joined three years ago he has made great progress and has improved himself every year to go from fourth place and ‘best rookie’ in 2008, to second place in 2009, to challenging for the MotoGP championship title in 2010.
“I am particularly pleased to finally get the agreement in place here in Japan because it will now enable Jorge to focus all of his efforts and concentration in the coming weeks to try to secure his first MotoGP class rider’s title. Being only 23 years old I believe Jorge has a long career ahead of him and hopefully he can win many world titles with Yamaha.”
