Following Movistar Yamaha MotoGP securing the 2015 MotoGP Team Title at the 14th round of the 2015 Championship in Aragón, Yamaha has now scored its 37th Manufacturers’ title, the 14th in premier class, at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend.
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo put in a superb performance today at the Grand Prix of Australia in Phillip Island, taking 2nd place to deliver Yamaha the 2015 MotoGP Manufacturers’ title.
For the Constructors’ Title, only the highest placed motorcycle of a given constructor will gain points, according to the position in the race. So far this year Yamaha collected 362 points thanks to a total of six wins and two second places by Jorge Lorenzo; four wins, one second place and two third places by Valentino Rossi; and one second place by Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Bradley Smith in Misano.
These impressive results saw Yamaha take the Manufacturers’ Title in Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.’s 60th anniversary year, adding to the Japanese constructor’s extensive list of milestones in the history of MotoGP, which dates back to 1949 when the first Grand Prix race was held.
Fifteen years later Yamaha won its first Manufacturers’ World title in the 250cc class, marking the start of Yamaha’s legacy. In total, the company has won 37 Constructors’ World titles (5xMotoGP; 9x500cc; 14x250cc; 4x125cc; 5x350cc), including the one in 2015. This year’s victory has Yamaha tied with MV Augusta for second place in the rankings of most successful manufacturer ever over all classes, and there are more reasons for ‘team blue’ to be cheerful.
Not only has the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team already taken the 2015 MotoGP Team Title three weeks ago in Aragón, securing Yamaha its sixth Team Title, but their riders are also the only participants still in contention for the 2015 MotoGP Rider Title.
The last time Yamaha won the Rider Title in the MotoGP class was in 2012 with Jorge Lorenzo, who also scored the title in 2010. He brought Yamaha’s premier class rider titles tally to 16 wins so far, of which four were secured by Valentino Rossi in the MotoGP class (2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009), three by Wayne Rainey (1990, 1991, 1992), three by Eddie Lawson (1984, 1986, 1988), three by Kenny Roberts (1978, 1979, 1980) and one by Giacomo Agostini (1975) in the 500cc class.
With the certainty that either Rossi or Lorenzo will wrap up the coveted Triple Crown in one of the final two races in Sepang (Malaysia) and Valencia (Spain), Yamaha is looking forward to a lively end to the season.
By the end of the year Yamaha will have won the MotoGP Triple Crown five times since the team category was added in 2002, in addition to being the only manufacturer to have secured the Triple Crown three times in a row when Yamaha reigned supreme over the premier class from 2008 to 2010.
Kouichi Tsuji
General Manager Motorsports Division / YMC MotoGP Group Leader, YMC
“We are delighted that we get to celebrate Yamaha taking its 37th Manufacturers’ World Title in the Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.’s anniversary 60th year. I want to thank all sponsors that made this victory possible as well as all fans around the world. Since its founding, Yamaha has always been striving to bring every Yamaha rider the feeling of ‘Kando’; a Japanese word for the simultaneous feelings of deep satisfaction and intense excitement that we experience when we encounter something of exceptional value. This year we put extra efforts to win the Manufacturer title in Yamaha Motor’s 60th anniversary year and I am very pleased because we have achieved more goals than one; not only did we see Yamaha take the Team and Manufacturers’ World Title, adding to Yamaha racing’s DNA and its successful history, we also got to share these indescribable experiences with our fans around the world. Their passion for powered two wheelers and motorsport is the main driving force behind our company’s racing efforts and we can be very proud about the milestones we have reached thanks to their support.”
Lin Jarvis
Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing
“I am naturally extremely happy to have secured our second title of the 2015 season, having already won the Team Championship back in Aragón. This Manufacturers’ title is special because it has been achieved with the impressive performances of both of our Yamaha Teams in the MotoGP championship. I would like to thank the riders and team staff of the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team and the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team. I would also like to congratulate the engineers of Yamaha’s Motorsports Development Division in Japan and Yamaha Motor Racing’s European based engineering and technical staff. The big question that now remains is which Yamaha rider will be crowned World Champion. With just two rounds to go and only 11 points separating Valentino and Jorge it promises to be a thrilling climax to a great season, in Yamaha’s 60th Anniversary year.”
