Yamaha

Maria Herrera will become the first female to contest a full campaign in the World Supersport championship after securing a deal with MS Racing Yamaha who steps up from World Supersport 300 in 2019.

A new year welcomes in a brand-new season of MotoGP and naturally everything is to play for with familiar faces in new places, teams at crossroads and a couple of new eras which begin in 2019.

The opening MotoGP test at Sepang in January took place without a Malaysian rider and certainly no sign of a Malaysian team.

Fabio Quartararo was the most surprising of the four 2019 MotoGP rookie signings. The young Frenchman had gone almost two and a half years without a podium when he snatched a shock debut victory, for Speed Up in the Moto2 class, at Catalunya in June.

Franco Morbidelli has been encouraged by new crew chief Ramon Forcada’s work with the Petronas Yamaha team and is “very curious to see how we can translate our work onto the track”.

Jonas Folger hopes he will get the chance to do at least one wild-card race entry as part of his new role as Yamaha's European MotoGP test rider.

Former MotoGP contender Hector Barbera will remain on the World Supersport grid for 2019 with a move to Team Toth Yamaha.

Yamaha Racing Manager Andrea Dosoli says expanding the manufacturer’s efforts in World Superbikes must improve its development pace to catch the front-runners and has warned the teams “we need to fight at the front rather than fight with each other.”

Four days into the preseason and Maverick Viñales was gushing over the early version of Yamaha’s 2019 M1, stating, “I think this is the bike to be competitive and the bike to win the title.”

His team-mate may intimate differently. But at the close of preseason testing in 2018, Valentino Rossi was clear: “We have a lot work to do if we want to be competitive.” Another stark warning for Yamaha bosses.

Franco Morbidelli says adjusting and improving on the Petronas Yamaha SRT will be “a never-ending process” as he continues to impress with instant speed on the opening day of the Jerez MotoGP winter test.

There were mixed messages coming out of the factory Yamaha squad on Wednesday evening as Maverick Viñales talked up one of the factory’s new engine specs soon after setting the fourth fastest time at the MotoGP test at Jerez.

David Allingham and EHA Racing will join the Bennetts British Superbike championship grid for the first time in 2019.

Matt Truelove will make his Bennetts British Superbike championship debut next season with Raceways Yamaha which will act as a satellite squad to McAMS Yamaha.

Franco Morbidelli has likened riding an M1 to “riding on butter” after the former Moto2 world champion impressed on his debut for Petronas Yamaha SRT, and caught the attention of reigning world champion Marc Marquez.

With a new era came a return to the top. Maverick Viñales marked his first day in grand prix racing using the #12 by finishing ahead of the rest at the Valencia test, as a new engine provided him with greater feel entering the track’s 14 turns.

Valentino Rossi has stressed the need for Yamaha to continue working on its 2019 M1 after a “positive” first day of MotoGP testing at Valencia saw him finish with the third fastest time.

Valentino Rossi labelled his second crash out of a competitive position in as many races “a great, great shame,” with the 39-year old stating his inability to fit new rubber for the restarted MotoGP race at Valencia was key to the result.

Maverick Vinales has blamed a faulty electronic system with his Movistar Yamaha for initially wrecking his Valencia MotoGP before falling while aiming to catch the front group in wet conditions.

Tarran Mackenzie is joined by Jason O’Halloran at McAMS Yamaha for the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike championship. The duo were presented to fans at Motorcycle Live ahead of a first winter test at Almeria as the official Yamaha squad in BSB for next season.

From the first moments of Valentino Rossi’s Saturday on track at Valencia he was on the back foot, as a heavy crash in FP3 set the tone for a “very difficult” day, in which he described his feelings as “uncomfortable” aboard Yamaha’s M1.

Maverick Vinales has conceded a conservative target if the 2018 Valencia MotoGP is hit by the forecasted rain tomorrow despite starting from pole position for Movistar Yamaha.

Full MotoGP qualifying results from Valencia

Maverick Vinales says he’s switched his racing number to #12 next season as part of his fresh start with Movistar Yamaha after “the worst two years”.