Yamaha unveils 50th anniversary paintjob for MotoGP

Yamaha has unveiled a 50th anniversary celebration paintjob for the factory MotoGP team which will be raced at Assen at the end of June and raced by reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo and teammate Ben Spies.

The classic red and white speedblock paintjob is called the YZR-M1 WGP50th Anniversary Edition’ and will be used for the Assen TT and Laguna Seca races.

Yamaha says: “2011 marks a very special moment in two wheeled motorsport as the 50th Anniversary of World Championship Grand Prix racing for Yamaha. The unique red and white livery design pays homage to the iconic Yamaha Factory Racing liveries of the past with a modern twist.”

“The red and white livery will be used by Yamaha Factory Racing team riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies. The colours will also appear on all Yamaha staff and team crew as well as the Yamaha Factory Racing team’s pit box.”

Lorenzo said: “I love these colours, they really have a historic significance. Read, Agostini, they all ran similar colour schemes when they won so the opportunity to use it on the YZR-M1 is really nice. It’s a very special year for Yamaha and we hope that these colours will give us luck in these two races.”

Spies added: “I’m really excited about running with these colours. It’s a big year for Yamaha and my first with the Factory Team. To be able to run a special livery like that in Assen and also for my home race at Laguna is awesome. I think it’s going to look really good and I’m looking forward to everyone being able to see it.”

The Yamaha World GP 50th Anniversary is also celebrated online with a special dedicated website (http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/global/race/wgp-50th/).

The website features an archive tracking the history of Yamaha’s involvement with racing along with detailed historical information.

Throughout the season the site will be regularly updated with columns and videos along with exclusive messages and interviews of key people involved in the World Championship Grand Prix racing story of Yamaha.