Petronas: "We want to continue with Yamaha, but VR46 is also interested"

This season, in addition to closing the signings or renewals of the riders of the last free places in MotoGP, the teams have to define which manufacturer they will be with as of 2022. In this sense, the entry of the VR46 affects the configuration of some grill parts.

The idea of Carmelo Ezpeleta , CEO of Dorna, has always been that each of the six brands have four bikes, but the reluctance so far of Suzuki and Aprilia to put a satellite team has prevented it from materializing.

At the last French Grand Prix, Valentino Rossi said that his team was only talking to Yamaha and Ducati –both options being 50/50–, ruling out Suzuki and Aprilia from the list.

Right now, everything indicates that Ducati will supply the bikes to the Aramco VR46 Racing Team , while Yamaha and Petronas will continue together, but the decision of the Italian star could cause a domino effect in the rest of the teams.

Petronas has been linked to Yamaha since he arrived in MotoGP in 2019, but has not yet been able to make their continuity together official, although talks have been underway for some time. With the certainty that they will keep the two places on the grid until 2026 , now the Malaysian team must take two steps: validate the financial backing of the oil company – which is expected shortly – and seal an agreement with a manufacturer for the supply of the motorcycles.

“We would love to continue with Yamaha, but it’s not just up to us. VR46 is also interested in Yamaha for the future,” SRT director Wilco Zeelenberg told Motorsport.com.

“It is clear that Yamaha does not want to have three teams because it could not manage them how it wants, so we will have to see. The situation is the same as a week or two ago: there are two teams interested in these bikes and we have to wait. The situation is not has changed”.

Since its arrival in the premier class in 2019, the Malaysian team has built an immediately enviable record, with 12 pole positions, 16 podiums, six wins, and a drivers’ runner-up position with Franco Morbidelli. It seems unlikely that the union will end here.

“When we started, our purpose was to do at least eight years. Three have already passed and Dorna has confirmed two places for us for another five years. The team has not yet formally announced its plans and we will do so when the time comes,” said the former pilot.

“We have some decisions to make: [choosing] which constructor, and all these things have to be decided, but it’s not done yet. But for another five years, I can’t imagine it not being done. I think we’ve had too many good results to stop in 2022, I have to admit.”

“At the moment, Dorna has confirmed the places for us, so we have another five years, with two drivers, and then you have to have the money, the manufacturer. And it’s not just Petronas, it’s all the sponsors because there’s a lot of money at stake. So it takes time,” he ditches.