WITHU confirmed as RNF Yamaha title sponsor, Zeelenberg stays
The latest in a flurry of announcements concerning the new RNF Yamaha MotoGP team is official confirmation that WITHU will become title sponsor and Wilco Zeelenberg team manager.
But there was no mention of Johan Stigefelt, who currently works alongside Zeelenberg and RNF founder Razlan Razali at the soon-to-close Sepang Racing Team.
It had been initially announced that Stigefelt, Razali's long-term partner and current SRT director, would also continue in the post-SRT MotoGP project. However there was no mention of 'Stiggy' when RNF then completed its deal for grid places with Dorna last month, underlining rumours of a rift between the pair.
Zeelenberg meanwhile had been a rumoured target for Suzuki, but the Dutchman's presence at RNF will be reassuring to Yamaha, where he helped Jorge Lorenzo win MotoGP titles for the factory team before joining SRT from its 2019 MotoGP debut.
The Zeelenberg and WITHU news follows hot on the heels of announcements that Yamaha has inked a one-year deal with Razali's new project, and that Darryn Binder will complete the team's 2022 rider line-up alongside Andrea Dovizioso.
WITHU has initially signed for three years.
"We have today reached a historical milestone for the new WITHU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team," said Razali. "Europe Energy was one of our first two sponsors for the current PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team team back in 2018 and we are thrilled with their continued support and commitment to step up as the title partner with the new team from 2022.
"Despite the changes the team have faced this year, I thank Matteo Ballarin, President of Europe Energy Group and Lin Jarvis of Yamaha for their confidence and trust in me and the team to continue this incredible journey that we are on. We have achieved so much together in the first three years of our partnership with wins, podiums, pole positions and awards.
"Matteo and his team are ambitious, enthusiastic and passionate. We share the same aspirations, to dream big and be competitive to perform at our very best in the World Championship.
"With the rider line-up now fixed, with Andrea Dovizioso and Darryn Binder, we are set to start the 2022 season with renewed motivation and confidence."
