Yamaha

A front tyre issue was culpable for Johann Zarco’s descent through the top eight after he sensationally led the first 17 laps of the opening MotoGP race of the year at the Losail International Circuit, the Frenchman has claimed.

Valentino Rossi says his podium finish at the 2018 MotoGP season opener vindicates his decision to sign a new two-year Movistar Yamaha deal as he can still fight at the front.

Maverick Vinales was one of the fastest riders on track during the second half of Sunday's season-opening Qatar MotoGP. Unfortunately for the Movistar Yamaha rider he had to fight back from 15th in the early stages and could only cross the line in sixth.

Such was the change in bike set-up made on Saturday, Maverick Viñales feels recent months of frustrating preseason work were deemed “useless” after switching "everything" on his Yamaha M1 provided some much needed feel at Losail.

'Nobody knows what happens tomorrow'. That was the verdict of Valentino Rossi, who qualified eighth on the grid for Sunday's Qatar MotoGP season opener but feels 12 riders have 'more-or-less' the same pace.

Johann Zarco has described his third career MotoGP pole position as “a good opportunity” to attack the 2018 season opener in Qatar but fears he may lack the outright race pace to battle for a maiden premier class win.

Johann Zarco went into Qatar MotoGP qualifying having fallen in final practice, but delivered a sensational pole position by smashing Jorge Lorenzo's ten-year-old lap record.

Satellite star Johann Zarco's future is one of the hottest topics in the MotoGP paddock at this weekend's Qatar season opener.

Maverick Vinales says he is still struggling with the electronics and rear grip stability with his Movistar Yamaha after Friday practice at the Losail International Circuit as his issues from the final winter test return.

Valentino Rossi has officially revealed his new helmet design for the 2018 MotoGP world championship fresh from confirming his new two-year Movistar Yamaha contract.

Yamaha’s managing director Lin Jarvis has stated the principle reasons behind extending Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP contract for a further two years is “because of everything he brings to the sport and the team," while adding he in convinced the 39-year old remains an “absolutely top rider

Valentino Rossi has revealed the process he went through with Movistar Yamaha to agree his new two-year contract with the team which guarantees the nine-time world champion will stay in MotoGP until at least the end of 2020.

Full free practice two results for the second round of the 2019 World Supersport championship at Buriram, Thailand. 1. Jules Cluzel FRA GMT94 Yamaha YZF-R6 1m 37.641s 2. Randy Krummenacher SUI Bardahl Evan Bros. Yamaha YZF-R6 1m 37.831s

Valentino Rossi has underlined his Movistar Yamaha’s focus for a continued development push with the 2018 YZR-M1.

Maverick Vinales is targeting a “100%” set-up for the 2018 MotoGP world championship season opener in Qatar but concedes small concerns with the electronics package remain with his Movistar Yamaha.

Johann Zarco starts his second MotoGP season at Qatar this weekend with victory on his mind.

The Angel Nieto Team has expressed an interest in running Yamaha machinery in MotoGP from 2019 onwards, after Tech 3’s shock decision to end its ties with the Japanese factory at the end of this year.

What a difference a year makes.

Valentino Rossi signed off a topsy-turvy pre-season with second place on the final night of MotoGP testing in Qatar.

Johann Zarco has every chance of starting the 2018 MotoGP season where he left off at the end of his rookie campaign: fighting for the top of the timesheets.

Johann Zarco, fastest in the dry at the final pre-season test, is sure that MotoGP will be able to race under floodlights in the rain, should such conditions occur at the season-opening Qatar race.

Valentino Rossi has confirmed his intention to continue competing in MotoGP until 2020, restating there is no great rush to sign with Yamaha. He will do so “when we are ready – we have time.”

Johann Zarco’s preparations for a victory challenge at the first MotoGP race of the year continued apace on Friday, the Frenchman finding “huge improvements” with a new Michelin tyre, leading him to conclude “we found what we were missing.”

Jorge Lorenzo helped draw a line under a lowly 22nd on the final day in Buriram by leading substantial parts of the opening day of MotoGP testing Qatar.