P&H Motorcycles News & Events

Yamaha will not be running additional MotoGP bikes in 2012.

MotoGP's 2012 season will not see extra riders in Yamaha motorcycle clothing on the track.

The Japanese manufacturer currently has four riders in motorcycle leathers racing its bikes in the premier class - Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies in the factory squad with Cal Crutchlow and Colin Edwards manning Herve Poncharal's Tech 3 bikes.

With Yamaha having been the dominant force in MotoGP for the last few years, it has been suggested that the company could consolidate their position at the top of the sport with more bikes on the MotoGP grid.

However, former Yamaha boss and current consultant Masao Furusawa told the Motorcycle News that while he wants to keep Tech 3 under Yamaha's guidance, there will be no additional teams.

"If [Poncharal] wants to do a reasonably priced new bike then it is okay, but I will ask him to keep the same conditions with Yamaha.

"Two bikes is not enough to develop good technology but six is too much for me, so four is a good number."

Posted by Simon Dankwerts