Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales are back with the Yamaha Factory Racing team for the 2018 season of MotoGP. After a solid season, with the team taking 2nd place at the Team World Championship in 2017, Viñales and Rossi taking 3rd and 5th respectively, our partners are looking to regain their position as the top team in 2018.
Valentino Rossi is already one of the most successful motorcycle racers of all time, with nine Grand Prix World Championships to his name. In both 2015 and 2016 he was narrowly defeated, missing his 10th World Championship title by only fractions, and 2017 saw technical challenges that led to a late season injury. We’ll all be looking to Rossi to see if this is his lucky 10th Championship season!
Maverick Viñales is newer to the sport, but after a Moto3 world championship in 2013, and winning best rookie award in 2015, he was well-positioned to join the Yamaha MotoGP team in 2017. He went on to become a top contender, dominating the top finishers list of nearly every race, leading to his strong third place finish last season. He recently extended his contract with Yamaha through the 2019 – 2020 season. In 2018, he’ll be up against strong competitors, including his own teammate.
This year will be fascinating for those of us watching, and we predict Yamaha team will be leading the pack. Stay tuned for another exciting year in MotoGP!