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Two years ago, the Sepang team competed only in Moto2 and Moto3 classes, where they had yet to win a race.
Fast forward to this weekend in Catalunya and the Malaysian team’s Petronas-backed Yamaha MotoGP project has so far won three races, plus 11 podiums and 8 poles with Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli.
And now the sport’s biggest icon, nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi, is officially confirmed to join the team for the 2021 season.
The Italian will swap places with Quartararo and while Rossi’s most recent of 89 premier class victories was at Assen 2017, Sepang team principal Razlan Razali is sure the Doctor’s experience will be ‘a great active ‘, adding that they are’ humiliated by this opportunity ‘.
“On behalf of the Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team and all its partners, it is an absolute honor to welcome Valentino Rossi, an iconic rider and legend, to the team,” said Sepang team principal Razlan Razali.
“His experience will be a great asset to the team as we move towards our third season in MotoGP and we are confident that we will be able to learn a lot from Valentino. At the same time, we will do our best to help him be competitive to reward him for the confidence that has in us as a team.
“We are honored by this opportunity and ready to take on the challenge. We believe that the combination of Valentino and Franco will provide a truly formidable force on the track to assist us in our goal of being as competitive as possible together next year. We can! Don’t wait! ! “
Team Principal Johann Stigefelt added: “To be able to sign a rider like Valentino Rossi for what will be our third year in the MotoGP championship is incredible.
“We have evolved from a Moto3 team to a Moto2 team to a MotoGP team in a short period of time and now leading the MotoGP team championship and signing one of the best riders the sport has ever known is incredible.
“It has been a long time since Valentino was on a satellite team and we will do our best to help him feel like new again. We want to make sure he feels comfortable in our team, which we trust and believe so much in.” .
“Our goal is to further improve as a team, help Rossi to achieve the best possible results and make 2021 a memorable year.”
Although he will continue to receive factory machinery from Yamaha, Rossi has not competed for a satellite team since his premier class debut in 2000.
