Movistar Yamaha launches 2017 YZR-M1

The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team has unveiled its 2017 YZR-M1 with a refreshed racing livery alongside Valentino Rossi and new team-mate Maverick Vinales at a presentation in Madrid.

Kicking off the 2017 MotoGP season, the factory Yamaha squad is the first team to reveal its new bike as it aims to reclaim the riders’ world championship crown lost to Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez last season while also retain its teams’ world title.

The presentation also unveiled the first formal outing of new signing Vinales, who has switched from Suzuki over the winter, and becomes Rossi’s new team-mate after the departure of Jorge Lorenzo to Ducati.

Vinales tested a prototype of the 2017 Yamaha in Valencia immediately after last year’s season finale, while Rossi has been intensely involved in early tests with the new bike as he prepares for his 12th MotoGP campaign with Yamaha.

The 2017 livery has received a small tweak with a darker blue primary colour and title sponsors Movistar’s logo has been made large on the bike.

Wings have been banned in in MotoGP but manufacturers are likely to test the limits of the restrictions to find downforce gains. As a result, the complete fairing designs are unlikely to be revealed until the bike are on track. 



Rossi and Vinales will make debut public outings with the new race colours during the Sepang test (January 30th to February 1st).