Jorge Lorenzo to Strengthen
Yamaha Factory Racing Test Team in 2020
January 30, 2020 – Yamaha is delighted to welcome back three-time MotoGP World Champion
Jorge Lorenzo. He will join the Yamaha Factory Racing Test Team programme with the aim to
boost MotoGP development during the 2020 season.
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and Yamaha Motor Racing are delighted to announce that five-time World
Champion and very successful Yamaha-rider Jorge Lorenzo will be reinforcing the Yamaha Factory
Racing Test Team for the 2020 season.
Lorenzo is not only a big name in the MotoGP paddock but also a widely celebrated Yamaha rider.
He made his debut in MotoGP with Yamaha in 2008 and spent nine years with the Factory MotoGP
Team, winning all three of his premier class titles on the YZR-M1, in 2010, 2012, and 2015
respectively.
Starting from the MotoGP shakedown test, held in Sepang, Malaysia from 2-4 February, Lorenzo
will ride the YZR-M1. He will also take part in other Official IRTA Tests and some private Yamaha
tests this year, with the sole aim to help Yamaha’s engineers with 2020 MotoGP development. The
Spaniard is the perfect man for the job as he is known for his smooth, precise riding and clear
feedback. He will be supported in his search for innovation by Silvano Galbusera, who will be Crew
Chief for Lorenzo in the Yamaha Factory Racing Test Team.
So far, no wild card rides are planned for Lorenzo in 2020, but Yamaha is open to the possibility,
should he decide to race again.
Lin Jarvis – Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing
“Of course, we are delighted to welcome Jorge back at Yamaha. When we knew that Jorge would
stop his active racing career, we immediately started to consider making a proposal for him to join
us. The statistics of his achievements with us in those nine years together speak for themselves.
He is a vastly experienced MotoGP rider, who is closely familiar with the M1 and the people at
Yamaha. We have come to know Jorge as a very precise and motivated rider, with flawless
consistency and good technical insight: all the qualities you need in a test rider at this high level.
Combining Jorge’s experience, knowledge, and riding speed with experienced Crew Chief Silvano
Galbusera is an important element in Yamaha’s strategy to strengthen the Test Team, which aims
to bridge the gap between the engineers and test riders in Japan and the Monster Energy Yamaha
MotoGP Team.”
Jorge Lorenzo
“I’m very happy with the decision to join the Yamaha Factory Test Team. I was always planning on
staying involved in MotoGP and returning to the paddock, and I think this is a suitable role for me.
I know the team and the M1 well. The Yamaha really suited my riding style, and it will be very
interesting to ‘meet up with my old bike again’. Returning to Yamaha brings with it some good
memories. We secured many podiums and victories, and three titles together, so we know where
our strengths lie. I want to thank Yamaha for this opportunity, because this allows me to do what I
love – riding motorbikes and pushing the limit – whilst enjoying a slightly calmer lifestyle than I did
in previous years. I’m very motivated to get to work and can’t wait to start riding. I want to do my
best for Yamaha’s future, and I hope my riding experience will be helpful to Yamaha’s engineers
and riders to bring the title back to Yamaha.”
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