Yamaha won’t alter 2010 plans

Yamaha will not make a dramatic U-turn and increase its involvement to five riders in MotoGP next year.

There is mounting speculation that Yamaha would lease a fifth YZR-M1 to current 125 and 250GP team boss Jorge Martinez, who is desperate to form a tie-up with the Japanese factory. Rumours intensified too in Catalunya that ‘Aspar’ Martinez would run one bike currently fielded out of the Tech 3 garage.

The French team already has a contract with Yamaha for two bikes in 2010. Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis told MCN: “Four for us has always been the optimum number for how we maintain quantity and quality. There was a direct discussion with Aspar in 2008 about the possibility of a fifth bike but we decided to continue with Tech 3.

“This year we had a request from Dorna to increase the quantity and Yamaha considered that, but it is very difficult, particularly now considering the economic climate. Given that, frankly four bikes now is the maximum Yamaha wants to do.

“Concerning a split between Tech 3 and Aspar, we’ve never had that intention and we’ve clarified that. Yamaha has already informed Dorna that our limit is four bikes and it will remain as the current format, two for the factory team and two for Tech 3. That is absolutely sure.”

Many expect Honda to supply Martinez an RC212V for current 250GP rider Alvaro Bautista, with the Spaniard reluctant to make his MotoGP debut for Ducati.