Jorge Lorenzo: "I want to thank Yamaha". An emotional farewell.

Rider Jorge Lorenzo has issued an official statement bidding farewell to Yamaha. After this weekend’s race at the Valencia Circuit, he will leave the Japanese manufacturer to move on to new challenges; specifically, he will begin a new challenge with Ducati.

Without a doubt, this is a very emotional statement, in which he has thanked the team for their work and their unity, in a partnership that has achieved great results and goals, and that has been extremely rewarding over these nine seasons. Specifically, the Mallorcan has won 43 races and 3 World Championships in the premier class with Yamaha.

I want to thank Yamaha and in particular Lin Jarvis for giving me the opportunity to join the factory team directly when I was barely 19 years old and had not yet even won my first 250cc World Championship, in 2006.

I also want to thank the affection and effort of my mechanics, both those who were there from day one and those who joined later, and the Japanese engineers who always managed to give me a winning bike. Without all of you, it would not have been possible. Thank you all!

I am leaving Yamaha with my head held high, with a clear conscience of having given everything in every training session and every race, knowing that everything I have experienced here has helped me become a better rider and a better person.

From next year I have new challenges ahead, but at Yamaha we still have one final goal: trying to win the last race of the season. It would be wonderful to say goodbye by giving this final gift to those who have believed in me.

The challenge that begins with Ducati is expected to be extremely intense and exciting, and it is one of the most “hot” points ahead of the pre-season and the first races of 2017, since we will see him dressed in red, in his first change of teams since arriving in the premier class. It will therefore be interesting to see how the development, adaptation and feeling between the Italian brand and the Spanish rider progress.

Source | Jorge Lorenzo press