Fiat Yamaha launches 2009 MotoGP campaign.

Fiat Yamaha today (Monday) unveiled the machine and colours with which Valentino Rossi will defend his MotoGP World Championship in 2009, during a special online presentation.

After two successive title defeats, the Italian superstar won his sixth premier-class world title by a margin of 93 points over Ducati's Casey Stoner in 2008 - The Doctor winning nine of the 18 races and finishing on the podium 16 times during a brilliant first season on Bridgestone tyres.

But it was Michelin-shod rookie team-mate Jorge Lorenzo who stunned the opposition at the start of the year; taking three poles, three podiums and one win from his first three races in the premier class.

The young Spaniard's season was soon blighted by repeated injury, but he returned to form towards the end of the year and secured the 2008 rookie of the year title with fourth in the overall standings and six podium finishes.

The launch 'movie' (see below) begins with Rossi's team manager Davide Brivio, Lorenzo's team manager Daniele Romagnoli and Yamaha Motor Racing managing director Lin Jarvis sat in suits at the Yamaha headquarters - waiting for their riders to arrive.

Rossi and Lorenzo are then showing running through the factory before all five walked to the launch area, where the riders unveil their respective YZR-M1s.

As well as an unchanged rider line-up, Yamaha's factory team has made few livery changes for 2009 - title sponsor Fiat remaining for a third season - although the YZR-M1 itself is said to be 'all-new'.

While Rossi will continue using the #46, Lorenzo has switched from his traditional #48 to the #99 and, like all of the premier-class grid, will be racing on Bridgestone rubber this season following the introduction of a single-tyre rule.

Rossi and Lorenzo will now join their MotoGP rivals on track at the first official test of the year, to be held at Sepang in Malaysia from February 5-7.