Yamaha confirms RNF MotoGP deal for 2022, 'possibly' beyond
RNF Racing, the new structure taking over the Sepang Racing Team's MotoGP grid places, has officially agreed a supply of satellite Yamaha machinery for the 2022 season.
With SRT closing its MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 operations at the end of this year following the withdraw of title sponsor Petronas and separation from the Sepang Circuit, RNF has been formed by former Sepang CEO and current SRT principal Razlan Razali.
Until now, only the RNF deal with Dorna to take over SRT's grid places for the next five years had been announced, but more news is expected throughout the Misano weekend, including confirmation that Darryn Binder will ride alongside Andrea Dovizioso (already signed by Yamaha for 2022) and title sponsorship from Italian company WithU.
UPDATE: Darryn Binder's Yamaha MotoGP deal is now official
UPDATE: WithU title sponsorship and Wilco Zeelenberg as team manager now official
Perhaps surprisingly, the initial Yamaha-RNF partnership is only confirmed for 2022 and then 'possibly' 2023 and 2024.
UPDATE: Yamaha's Lin Jarvis has clarified: "We expect that the current one-year deal will be extended in the middle of 2022 for 2023 and will continue into 2024."
Bike specification was not announced but Dovizioso, currently finishing the 2021 campaign with SRT, is known to be getting a Factory-spec M1 next season, with Binder expected to ride an older A-Spec bike.
“We have today reached a historical milestone for the new RNF MotoGP Team,"Razali said. "I would like to thank Yamaha for the trust and confidence given to me and the team for the upcoming season despite the changes that happened this year.
"The achievements that we have shared together in the first three years of our partnership with wins, podiums, pole positions, and awards has been memorable and motivates us towards greater heights.
"We have the experience from our past successes, supported by the same strong and passionate crew from our MotoGP garage, with a solid rider line-up, so we are set for a competitive comeback with Yamaha for the 2022 season."
Yamaha Racing's Lin Jarvis added: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with the now rebranded RNF MotoGP Team.
"When Razlan Razali and the Sepang Racing Team embarked on their MotoGP adventure at the end of 2018 and the start of 2019, nobody could have expected how they would take the premier class by storm.
"The impressive 2019 season and exceptional 2020 season results underline the professionalism and quality of this team that will soon be renamed RNF MotoGP Team.
"The core DNA of this team remains, so we are confident to continue with them as our official supported satellite team. Moreover, Yamaha has always been clear that it wants to continue to have four bikes in total on the MotoGP grid: two bikes in the Factory Team and two bikes in the Independent team.
"We will do our best to support the newly founded RNF Racing Ltd. to achieve their goals and to provide the stepping stone for future talents to enter into the world of Yamaha in MotoGP."
