2019 Honda still beat all 2020 Honda this season.

We are not even sure if the first few races will still go on with this unpredictable pandemic!

I think MM will be on the grid. In Motogp riders timeline, it is already more than enough time to recover. Recover is one thing, getting back to optimum fitness is another. Hopefully he makes it the whole season next year(but please don't win too much lol).

Next year there are many variables to take into account. For one, the MM Honda has changed a lot to suit the other riders. If he can adapt his style to it then fine, if not he has to change back the bike. Suzuki is stronger, KTM could still improve more next year. Not sure about Ducati but Yamaha has Crutchlow now to develop the bike. At the moment we can only wait and see. Actually I can't wait for next season to start.

I hope Kawasaki comes back to MotoGP someday.

https://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/2021/Rea%2...100010275&jb=17

Bike seems fast.

This post has been edited by Aydee: Nov 19 2020, 10:07 AM

We will see.

Bezzechi turned down Aprilia offer lol. Seems not everyone desperate to get into MotoGP. Good move I think. A bad bike will not show his full potential, later become like Rabat, always at the back. or Tom Luthi or Sam Lowes, 2 fast riders in Moto2 but forgotten in MotoGP then move back. Who knows, maybe there's a VR46 Sky Racing Suzuki Team in 2020.

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/948800/1/...21-motogp-offer

What a season! What a season ender! I am totally giving this season 5 stars out of 5.No matter who ended first and who ended last, virtually everyone had their ups and downs(except Rabat maybe). Same goes to Moto3 and Moto2.

Kinda sad after the race when everyone doing their farewells. Some people leaving and some jumping teams. Even when Lorenzo left it was like nothing special. Images of Rossi hugging the team members, LCR's goodbye to Cal was really touching.

Can't wait for next season to start!!

Agreed on MM part but VR was the most consistent Yamaha rider for 2/3 of the season, with a podium even.

THE YAMAHA FACTORY RACING MOTOGP TEAM THANK VALENTINO ROSSI FOR 15 UNFORGETTABLE YEARS



The Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team look back with great pride on their successful 15-year long journey with MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi.
With the 2020 MotoGP season having come to an end, the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team want to thank Valentino Rossi for his 15 years of outstanding hard work, dedication, and passion. He has been a key member of the Yamaha family during two long terms in his impressive Grand Prix racing career (from 2004 – 2010 and from 2013 – 2020). The Factory Yamaha MotoGP Team take this opportunity to share their heartfelt appreciation of the still very much active MotoGP legend, as well as the departing crew members, and celebrate their remarkable achievements.

Valentino started riding for the team in 2004 and stayed for seven years, then had a brief two-year stint at Ducati, before he came back to Yamaha where he refound his purpose, his energy, and his performance. His second term with the Factory Yamaha MotoGP Team lasted eight years, one year longer than his first term and a clear indication of how much the Italian feels at home with Yamaha.

Valentino’s list of results achieved with the Factory Yamaha Team is extensive. He earned 4 MotoGP World Championship Titles and secured 56 victories and 142 podiums in their 255 Grand Prix races together.

Besides Valentino, the Factory Yamaha Team is also saying goodbye to highly-esteemed and much-appreciated colleagues Brent Stephens (Mechanic since 1999), Alex Briggs (Mechanic since 2004), Matteo Flamigni (Data Engineer since 2000), David Muñoz (Crew Chief since 2020), and Idalio Gavira (Rider Performance Analyst since 2019), who are all part of The Doctor’s crew.

Alex and Brent will be leaving Yamaha, whilst David, Matteo, and Idalio will continue their work with Valentino as a part of PETRONAS Yamaha SRT in 2021.

Also, Javier Ullate (Mechanic since 2003) will be leaving the team. In the 18 years he spent as a part of the Factory Yamaha crew, he worked with big names such as Carlos Checa, Marco Melandri, Colin Edwards, Jorge Lorenzo, and Maverick Viñales, helping them secure many victories and podiums, including three titles with Jorge.

The Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team couldn’t let this occasion go by unnoticed. On Thursday 19 November, the entire staff (including the staff and friends of the team who are not in Portugal, who attended the event online) met up at the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP garage to give the leaving members the appreciation they deserve and present them with some parting gifts.

The Factory Yamaha MotoGP Team once again sincerely thank Valentino and the departing team members for their hard work, professionalism, dedication, and passion. Their stellar contribution and results will always remain a part of Yamaha’s racing legacy.


LIN JARVIS
MANAGING DIRECTOR, YAMAHA MOTOR RACING
This is an emotional moment. It’s always sad to bid farewell, especially to people who have been such a vital part of the team. But nothing in life is continuous, nothing remains the same, and that’s also the nature of MotoGP. The situation in the paddock is constantly evolving. People come into the team, some leave, and some come back again.

“2020 was Valentino’s 15th season with the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team. I have very vivid memories of those years. There have been highs and lows – it’s been a roller-coaster ride, but his list with results on a Yamaha is seriously impressive: 4 MotoGP World Championship Titles, 255 Grand Prix races, 56 victories, 142 podiums. It’s amazing how much he achieved during his time with us.

“In Valentino’s case we are now facing what I would call ‘a changing of the guard’. Though he is leaving the Factory Yamaha MotoGP Team, this is not the end of his career. This is not a complete farewell scenario, this is a transition moment. It’s important, regardless, because Valentino has been part of our team for so long. But next year he will be next door, so he will stay close. His factory-rider status continues, and he will continue riding a factory YZR-M1 with full support from Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. He will also be taking Crew Chief David, Data Engineer Matteo, and Rider Performance Analyst Idalio with him, so he will be surrounded by some familiar faces in the PETRONAS Yamaha SRT garage.

“Brent, Alex, and Javier will finish their long-term working collaboration with Yamaha. Their expertise, professionalism, and passion for the job is something that kept our team going for many years, so it’s very sad to have to say goodbye to them. We wish them all the best for the future and hope to stay in touch.


VALENTINO ROSSI
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP RIDER
This is an important moment, because this is the end of our long journey together. Our history, between me and the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team, is divided into two parts – almost like a good movie, I think.

“The first part is from the beginning in 2004 to 2010. I think that was the best part of my career. We wrote history for Yamaha. We were able to win the championship for Yamaha after twenty-something years. I will always remember these achievements, for sure, because they are key moments in my career too.

“But I’m also very proud of the second part. I want to say ‘Thanks’ again to Lin and all of Yamaha. They gave me a chance to come back to the Factory Team after two bad years with another factory, when I was already ‘getting old’ by MotoGP-standards, so I was desperate. I will never forget the moment when Lin told me I would have a chance to come back here. I’ll always be thankful for that moment, because maybe I could also have stopped riding at that time if I wasn’t able to come back here. My return to the Factory Yamaha team has lasted 8 years, so one year longer than the first part. The second part was a bit more difficult in terms of results, but we did come close to winning a championship at one point, which could have changed our story. But things happened the way they happened, and I’m still thankful for the support I got from Lin, Maio, and all the Japanese engineers. But especially I want to say ‘Thank you’ to my crew. We’ve been together for a long time. Bernie, Alex, Brent, Matteo, Mark, David, Idalio, and more. I also want to say thanks to the other guys from the team and the hospitality staff. And of course to my mate Maverick: we also had a good atmosphere with that side of the box, so I want to thank them too.

“Next year I will still be riding a factory bike with full factory support, just in different colours. It’s true, I will not be sitting in the Yamaha Factory Racing garage, but I will be just next door – together with Matteo, Idalio, and David – so for sure we can still say hello.


https://www.yamahamotogp.com/news/22-11-202...rgettable-years

As per previous rumours, MM93 undergoing 3rd surgery.

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2020/12/03/m...peration/359668

I hope not. I am not a fan of MM but still want him to race as I want him to be beaten on track.

Wasn't it his own fault for wanting to race too soon and also stressing the injury at home?

I get the feeling that MM is not the type to stay still, so resting does not sit well with him. Probably the kind of person that likes to poke and scratch the stitches and walk, jump and run around every few minutes. That will definitely prolong the recovery time.

Yeah, this issue came out after season end. There was issue with procedure or something but I can't really comment coz I don't really know the whole picture. I absolutely know that under the previous young minister, a lot of sports was negatively affected.

Could still be Aprilia satelite team instead. Aprilia needs the extra bike to move forward. Suzuki will probably go to VR46 team I think.

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2020/12/14/g...-reality/359968

That is VR46 branding with Avintia. For 2022, they may go with their own team. Considering the history Rossi had with Brivio, the possibility is there. Having Marini at Avintia is just to guarantee his position in 2022. Another scenario is Rossi will decide to call it a day after next year and put Marini in Petronas SRT. 2022 will present so many possibilities.

Should be a natural transition since riding retirement is inevitable. He obviously still loves the sport. It's the best way to get involved and put his vast experience to good use. He has been successfully managing the academy by churning out championship winning material riders. Morbidelli, Marini, Bezzechi, Vietti all have proven to be great talents. He also successfully brokered a deal to have Marini at Avintia and pushing out Moto2 2014 champion Rabat out. If his team can win more championships(so far 1 with Bagnaia in Moto2) it would add more to his 9 personal championship.

Come to think of it he is already a 10(9+1) time champion lol!

The only "failure" for VR46 academy was probably Romano Fenati but I think firing him was a good move at the moment.

I have no idea what is going on behind the scenes but I do agree Petronas SRT should support local talents if not Asian talents. HS55 has a good point there.

He has a Cubprix team.

https://www.facebook.com/yuzyracing/

He's achieved his target and moving on. Congrats to him. Hope he does well in F1.