Alex

The Japanese Yamaha engineers will now take the valuable data gained back to Japan to work towards the second Sepang test in a few weeks time. Jorge Lorenzo - Laps 58, Time - 2'00.429 “I think these three days have been positive for us. We tried many things and some of them were good. We need to reconfirm again in another track but here we were able to improve a little bit. I was able to make a simulation this afternoon, the first one I’ve done in Sepang in my GP career. I felt strong physically, mentally and riding so it was good. The other riders are also really strong so it promises to be an interesting season.” Valentino Rossi - Laps 55, Time - 2'00.542 “I’m very happy, all three days were very good. We worked hard on the bike and improved day by day. The third day was the best, we were able to stay less than half a second from pole position and the lap time is higher which is interesting. Today we finished third in the standings which is theoretically the front row so I’m very happy with this first test.” Wilco Zeelenberg - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager “The whole test has been quite positive and we finished today finding two directions for the rest of the season. Also Jorge’s long run this afternoon was quite consistent, I think that was one of our tasks we were aiming for, to be fast is one thing but to be consistently fast is what it takes to win in racing. Overall we are pretty satisfied, both Jorge and the team worked really hard in these hot conditions, we’re looking forward to coming back to see how we can improve even more.” Massimo Meregalli - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Director “This has been a really important and positive test. We have been able to work really well and our Japanese engineers have a lot of data so they are really happy. We can go home pretty satisfied and the engineers can continue working on the project, we will see what we can do in a few weeks. Jorge has been very consistent and fast throughout the test in many different circumstances so we are very pleased with him. On Vale’s side he removed a lot of weight from his shoulders, I see him very happy because he is finally back riding a bike that he enjoys, which is what he was looking for. I can’t say more than that!” Crutchlow and Smith conclude successful Sepang test British duo Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith set the fifth and eighth fastest times at the Sepang International Circuit today to conclude a successful start to the MotoGP winter testing schedule for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team. A best time of 2.00.734 ensured Crutchlow finished inside the top six on each day and after improving his pace by over a second throughout the test he finished in fifth position on the final timesheets. Having made improvements with corner entry rear grip yesterday, Crutchlow turned his focus to working on his pace an d consistency on worn tyres today, and he was satisfied with the progress to finish 0.634s away from Dani Pedrosa's best time. Rookie teammate Smith produced another fantastic performance and included in his 48-lap stint was an impressively fast and consistent full race simulation, which he completed in searing heat and humidity on the hottest day of the test. The 22-year-old has made a seamless transition from Moto2 to the heavier and more powerful YZR-M1 machine and his race simulation gave him priceless information on where he can improve when the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team returns to Sepang for a further three-day test later this month. Smith ended with a best time of 2.02.093 today, which was within two seconds of the quickest pace set by Pedrosa and he was only a second away from the top six. His fastest time at the test was yesterday's 2.01.931 that secured him the eighth quickest time overall. Cal Crutchlow - Laps - 53, Time - 2'00.734 “It has been a very positive week and I am where I expected to be and that's right behind the top four factory bikes. I can't really ask for more than that and I'm pleased with my lap times because my bike is almost identical to the bike I rode last year. Today I was doing a lot of laps on old tyres and trying to stay consistent and I've improved. I also feel like I've made good progress in improving on the brakes, so it has been a productive test and good to be back on track after the winter break. I've built up my confidence each day but it is obvious that 2013 is going to be incredibly tough. There is some amazing talent on really good machinery but I am really looking forward to it. I'll be ready to give it 100% as always and come the first race in Qatar I'll be ready to challenge. Credit to Bradley as we ll because he has done a fantastic job this week. This was his first proper test in MotoGP and he has got faster and more confident each day. I have been very impressed with him and it is going to be good being his teammate this season.” Bradley Smith - Laps - 48, Time - 2'02.093 “I am really happy with the way this test has gone and my lap times and final position have already given me a lot of confidence. I didn't come here with any expectations but to be eighth is where this bike needs to be. I am still not getting all of the potential out of the YZR-M1 but I am gaining in confidence with every lap I complete and it has been mission accomplished in terms of coming here and understanding how the bike needs to be ridden. I still need to be a lot smoother but I am happy to be within two seconds of the fastest time. I knew that was possible but the hard work starts now to close that gap even more. The race simulation was amazing to build up my experience but it was seriously hard work. It was the hottest day and it is very physically and mentally demanding to ride a MotoGP bike at that pace over a long distance. It is hard to concentrate but the best thing was on the last lap I did a 2.02.9 and my best lap was a 2.02.5. So I was consistent and while I need to be faster, I'm really happy to be leaving this test having learned so much. I need a good sleep now to digest all the information I've taken on but already I can't wait to be back on the bike here later this month.” Sepang Test Times - Day Three: 1. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 2m 0.100s (Lap 4/44) 2. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory (YZR-M1) 2m 0.429s (4/58) 3. Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha Factory (YZR-M1) 2m 0.542s (43/55) 4. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 2m 0.636s (32/54) 5. Cal Crutchlow GBR Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 2m 0.734s (5/53) 6. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V) 2m 1.003s (14/43) 7. Alvaro Bautista ESP Honda Gresini (RC213V) 2m 1.502s (29/48) 8. Bradley Smith GBR Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 2m 2.093s (43/48) 9. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Team (GP13) 2m 2.184s (19/49) 10. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP13) 2m 2.277s (37/38) 11. Katsayuki Nakasuga JPN Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) 2m 2.616s (12/21) 12. Aleix Espargaro ESP Aspar (ART CRT) 2m 2.628s (37/47) 13. Andrea Iannone ITA Pramac Racing (GP13) 2m 2.864s (17/32) 14. Kosuke Akiyoshi JPN Honda Test Rider (RC213V) 2m 3.082s (14/28) 15. Michael Laverty GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT) 2m 3.874s (40/47) 16. Randy De Puniet FRA Aspar (ART CRT) 2m 4.066s (38/38) 17. Wataru Yoshikawa JPN Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) 2m 4.137s (5/18) 18. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 2m 4.211s (31/37) 19. Takumi Takahashi JPN Honda Test Rider (RC213V) 2m 4.288s (37/46) 20. Danilo Petrucci ITA IodaRacing (Suter-BMW CRT)* 2m 4.531s (32/34) 21. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB (ART CRT) 2m 4.766s (57/61) 22. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Avintia (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 2m 4.940s (43/45) 23. Claudio Corti ITA Forward (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 2m 5.107s (13/37) 24. Lukas Pesek CZE IodaRacing (Suter-BMW CRT)* 2m 5.321s (39/40) 25. Yonny Hernandez COL Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT) 2m 5.580s (14/43) 26. Bryan Staring AUS Honda Gresini (FTR-Honda CRT) 2m 5.970s (38/41) 27. Colin Edwards USA Forward (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 2m 6.141s (38/41) * Control ECU. Source www.yamaha-racing.com

Born out of a strong belief by both Ferry and Yamaha that the iconic machines of the past should not just be on display but also play a part in keeping Grand Prix history alive by running on track, the last ten years has seen the team entertain thousands of racing fans both modern and historical. Unique Yamaha machines such as the 125 cc RA31A and 250 cc RD05A works four cylinders of 1968, the 750 – two stroke (OW31), the 1979 GP500 championship winning YZR500 and numerous other legendary bikes were ridden from the Isle of Man TT to Spa Francorchamps and countless other classic events by living legends. Riders including Giacomo Agostini, Steve Baker ,Phil Read, Dieter Braun, Michelle Duff, Pentti Korhonen, Carlos Lavado, Rodney Gould, Chas Mortimer, Jos Schurgers, Svend Andersson, Akiyasu Motohashi, Tommy Robb, Kel Carruthers, and not to forget Kent Andersson have all taken to the tracks on their glorious machines. The team and riders were also a key element in Yamaha’s celebration of 50 years of Grand Prix racing in 2011, putting on a special display at the Assen TT for the MotoGP fans. Ferry’s relationship with Yamaha goes back many years to the 1960s as a mechanic for the Japanese manufacturer’s first Grand Prix World Champion, Phil Read and the legendary Jarno Saarinen. He remained a close part of Yamaha’s early racing days before moving on to found and grow Arai Helmet Europe. He was the organizer of the 1998 Centennial event at the Assen circuit, and from organizing that came with the idea to create a running classic team for demonstration purposes. This team grew and changed, becoming more and more Yamaha until by 2004 it had become purely Yamaha and shortly after resulted in a program officially supported by Yamaha Motor Europe and the head office in Japan. The success of the team, the incredible machines and the participation of the legends who rode them originally owes to the dedication of Ferry and his close relationship to Yamaha. Those wishing to see the team in action one last time can catch them at various events during the coming year, with the farewell event being at this year’s Classic TT on the Isle of Man from the 23rd to 26th August. A number of the special machines from the team are under discussion to be taken over by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd in Japan to become part of their historic collection. Ferry Brouwer - Owner, Yamaha Classic Racing Team “It’s a truly sad moment bringing this incredible project to a close. It has been a fantastic experience, working with both the beautiful, iconic machines, Yamaha and these really special riders. We’ve been running a classic racing team since the 1998 Centennial Event, then from within the Centennial team it became the Yamaha Classic Racing Team. It may seem like not so many years have passed but we have achieved so much and been seen by so many that we have much to reminisce about already!” Shigeto Kitagawa – Responsible for External Affairs, Motorsports Development Division Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd & Yamaha Motor Racing President. “We know that there is nothing which continues forever in this world, there are no words to say how surprised I was to hear that the Yamaha Classic Racing Team will come to an end this year. The passion with which Ferry filled YCRT after he established it in 2002 and up to the present, and the great efforts offered to the world of classic racing are immeasurable. We deeply appreciate that Ferry dedicated more than ten years of his life as a brand ambassador for Yamaha and a witness to the great history of motorcycle racing, we will be proud of him eternally. To be honest however, I cannot stop imagining the day when he will return unexpectedly to this racing world because his racing spirit is not considered to like the quiet life so much for a long time. Thank you very much Mr. Ferry Brouwer for all your efforts!” Andrew Smith - Vice President Sales & Marketing Operations, Yamaha Motor Europe “It’s difficult to imagine a season of racing activities for Yamaha without Ferry and YCRT being involved. They have become in recent times so much a part of our company representing both our history and the equally important link to the present day! Ferry and the whole YCRT team’s genuine enthusiasm and commitment to our company and brand has been an inspiration to not only Yamaha employees throughout Europe but also our factory in Japan. At the same time they have reignited the “memories“ of ex–racers and fans both past and present of what racing used to be – the unique excitement , smell and of course the sound. On behalf of Yamaha and all race enthusiasts we would like to say a big ‘Thank You’ to Ferry and all members of YCRT, thanks for the great memories and please be assured you will always remain part of Yamaha. Enjoy your next challenges!” 2013 Event schedule at present: April 27th-28th, Stafford Show, Stafford, UK June 1st-2nd,Coupe Moto Legend, Dijon, France June 15th-16th ,Retro-Moto Legend, St-Cergue , Switzerland July 6th-7th ,Bikers’ Classics, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium August 10th-11th , Schotten Grand Prix, Schotten, Germany August 23rd-26th Classic TT, Isle of Man

Freezing gale force gusts blasted the coastline and the 17km course that was invaded by almost 1000 entrants. Among the participants was a host of national and world champions in disciplines such as motocross, enduro and rally. The likes of Antoine Meo, Steve Ramon, Olivier Pain and Livia Lancelot were just some of the names that were shown the fastest route around the sandy curves and dunes by Mousse, who now boasts four career triumphs at the popular beach spectacle (three with Yamaha) in its 38 year existence. Jeremy Forestier and Florian Mangeot grabbed second and third places in the quad category and were two of six Yamaha-powered Quads in the final top ten. 42 year old Mousse commented on the podium that the meeting had been a strange one. The incoming tide had forced the event to be curtailed after almost two hours of racing (when the full distance should have been three). Potisek was in fact leading the field as the red flag was shown but with results taken from the previous lap the reigning French Champ was able to classify first and was confirmed with the winner’s trophy after a delay to confirm the final standings. The 2013 Le Touquet was already being labelled the ‘petit Enduropale’ in some early press reports. Photo courtesy of Monster Energy

Verhoeven on the high point so far.. “The best moment has to be the first stages as I could attack all the time in the big sand dunes. I’m quite satisfied with today’s eleventh as well, I made some small mistakes but I jumped five places up the overall standings.” Verhoeven on the 450 Yamaha.. “It’s great, there are no words for it. It's like a toy! So easy to ride and handle. It’s just a normal motocross bike with some extra bits on top. Even with the extra weight of the rally outfit it’s working so well here.” Verhoeven on the come back.. “I’m trying hard to do it, I always believe in myself and the bike, I dropped some time because of the fuel pump issue but since then I’ve kept fighting and moving forward. I will try to catch Olivier Pain on the 12th stage. My goal originally was to finish in the top five, I’m not sure if it’s still possible but I will try. I feel good and physically strong, I’m resting well and taking care of myself. The Yamaha France guys are taking really good care of my bike which I’m really satisfied with so I think we can move forward.” Verhoeven on ‘downtime’.. “At the end of every stage I first answer any questions the press have. Then I get to have a shower, eat and get a massage. I make sure I’m taking care of my body, the Dakar is so hard, you have to look after yourself and don't forget a day has only 24hrs!” Verhoeven on riding with others.. “I’m quite good riding with Caselli, he rides steady. If I’m faster he lets me past and the other way round also. I also rode with fellow Yamaha rider Olivier pain for a while which worked really well.” Verhoeven on Yamaha fans.. “I really want to thank them all, I get a lot of messages on twitter, facebook and sms messages also. It’s incredible how people are following and supporting me. There are real Yamaha supporters all over the world. You realize you are not only doing your race but you’re part of the big Yamaha picture, those people, these fans, are racing with me in their minds.” Verhoeven on rivals.. “Now my biggest rival has to be Olivier Pain, he’s my team mate but I would love to finish in front of him. It would mean a lot to me to finish the first Yamaha rider. That would have a big value for me because the support from Yamaha Motor Netherlands and Yamaha Motor Europe has been amazing.” Verhoeven on first time Dakar riders.. “Don't go without really knowing what it takes to compete, do some World Championship rounds first. I’ve seen some amateur racers come and they don't have the level to compete. There are a lot of guys here who have abandoned the rally already. It’s really important to be aware this is the hardest race in the world; some people see it as too romantic.”

The most obvious question…how do you feel after several weeks back riding? Things have been going quite good. In the first week it was pretty difficult and I was feeling very stiff after the first sessions on the bike but I found the rhythm quite quickly. I’m still too slow of course but it is building up slowly. At the beginning I was a bit sore on the bike but that was normal and one leg did feel stronger than the other but everything is fine physically. So you’ve temporarily escaped the cold… Yes! At the moment I am in Corsica. We have come here to train and do some work and I like the place. We’ll stay for ten days and we’re close to Christophe’s place [team-mate and MX2-GP rider Charlier] and the track here is pretty good. My idea is to do two days riding, then have an easy day and then another two and an easy day and so on. We went mountain biking last week and it is a beautiful place. I’m taking care not to overdo it. What was it like climbing on the YZ450F for the first time? I didn’t really know what to expect. Since the crash and operation there were three things I had to get my head around: a new bike, a new class and a new team. I’ve been waiting a long time to really find out anything about these steps so it was a bit of a relief to end the mystery, start riding and get to know the guys a bit better. I’ve been pleasantly surprised. For the first two weeks I just rode the stock Yamaha and I loved how the bike felt and handled. The handling was the thing that struck me most. This week I should be practicing with more race components and I spent some days in Italy making tests for the GP bike where I really didn’t have to change much at all. The bike feels very stable and I had almost no complaints. I know - or I am told - it was very fast and aggressive last year and the focus for this season has been curbing a bit of that power and sharpening the handling. How about just getting used to the bigger bike? I’m not really surprised by the power of the MX1 bike because I know the speed and potential they can get out of a 250 these days! After having ridden the stock YZ450F and moving to the YZ450FM this feels like a real factory machine though. I worked on the starts and I have to say they were pretty bad! It was on a grippy terrain and I wasn’t used to the torque of the 450 so that did take a bit of getting used to. I’m in a period of adjustment to the 450 now and I guess that is normal for any rider moving up from numerous years in MX2. And gelling with the team? Everything has been perfect with the team. Most of them speak English and they are always thinking ahead with regards to what I might need or things we might have to do to for the best preparation. We have regular meetings and the communication is good. Lastly what’s the plan after Corsica and what pre-season races will you do? The plan is to do at least two rounds of the Italian Championship in February, most likely three, and then that will take us to almost the first Grand Prix of the season in Qatar.

Frans Verhoeven made up valuable ground from yesterday’s frustrating result following a technical issue. The Dutch Yamaha Netherlands Verhoeven Team rider wrapping up the stage in 15th to move four places up the overall standings. Yamaha Racing Team Argentina quad rider Marcos Patronelli continued in winning form today, taking his fourth consecutive stage victory of the Rally. The Yamaha YF700M based quad looking stronger than ever and taking the top four positions in both the day’s stage and the overall standings. “The stage I won in 2010 seems a long time ago,” said David Casteu. “I've always said to myself that winning a special stage is fabulous. What's more, winning at the start of the rally when all the riders are still in it, it's really great. At the end of the Dakar, it can be argued that other riders relax and manage their position. When you win like that with all these riders who've got the bit between their teeth, it's good. Also, it was on a 136-km long special stage, so today it was like a long sprint. I'm really happy about it. I've really got the feel of my bike now and I'm really enjoying it. It's a bike on which I feel good, on which I gobble up the obstacles and behind the handlebars of which I'm relaxed and calm. I arrived on this Dakar having taken stock, with the aim of enjoying each moment, each second. I'm 38 years old and I'm going to take every day as it comes. I'm itching to ride flat out and today I had great fun”. “This morning, I didn't know how it was going to work out,” said Olivier Pain. “I wasn't stressed out, but I wanted to avoid making a mistake so that people wouldn't say, ‘he got caught out because he got too big for his boots'. I set off in a good state of mind. I was especially concentrating on not falling. I made a small navigation error right at the beginning, but I put it right straight away. I didn't see Joan (Barreda) stopped next to the track. I don't know if he had problems or if he made a mistake. I had to open the road for three-quarters of the day. David started to catch up with me a bit in the middle, but I put some distance in between us near the end. It was a good special stage, very dangerous at the beginning with a bit of navigation before a big rocky area. The end was more twisting in a canyon with nice tracks and some fesh-fesh. It was a nice stage to ride and I'm still leader. That makes it two days running now”. Source: yamaha-racing.com

Reigning MotoGP World Champion Lorenzo has a personal engagement with Monster Energy and Yamaha included in the agreement. Valentino Rossi’s personal agreement with Monster Energy will be complementary to the agreement between Yamaha Factory Racing and MEC. The agreement between the satellite Monster Energy Yamaha Tech3 team and Monster Energy will remain unchanged and is unaffected by the Yamaha – MEC agreement. Lin Jarvis - Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing “We are very happy to be able to announce the start of a new chapter in the Yamaha – Monster Energy partnership. Monster Energy is already a major partner to Yamaha’s top global sports activities in many domestic and international racing activities around the world in Motocross, Supercross, Endurance and Superbike disciplines. They have also been the title sponsor of the Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha team for the past 4 years. The expansion to include the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team is a logical and prestigious expansion of the program. This completion of the program permits Yamaha and Monster Energy to work even closer together to develop their sports marketing programs and to develop rider talent to continue to be successful into the future in all areas of motorcycle racing. For the Yamaha Factory Racing Team this new partnership will bring even more ‘energy’ into our racing program and Monster Energy will be a great supporter to further promote our Team and our riders' performances around the world.”

Yamaha Netherlands Verhoeven Team rider Frans Verhoeven experienced a difficult fourth day, losing valuable time with a fuel hose issue. The Dutchman was forced to stop and repair his bike on-stage, eventually bringing it home in 53rd place to drop to 27th in the overall standings. On four wheels Marcos Patronelli continues to dominate the Quad competition, taking top honours in today’s stage to further consolidate his position at the top of the overall standings with a 14 minute advantage over his closest rival. Yamaha’s still make an impressive six out of the top ten quad entrants. Yamaha Racing France Power Bike Team rider David Frétigné was unfortunately forced to retire from the Dakar today, the French rider failing to make the third checkpoint of the special stage after suffering from a technical issue. “I strayed a bit off track and, being behind the rest of the bikes at the top of the valley, I was able to take the shortest route and make up a lot of time,” said Olivier Pain. “I've been riding at my pace from the beginning, with no pressure, just to have fun, and doing my best not to fall because the rally's just begun. I don't want to get overexcited about my place in the overall, the rally's still long and my objective is to finish in the Top 10 every day, and I hope to continue doing this well until the end.” “It really was a difficult stage,” commented Marcos Patronelli, “quite complicated especially when we had the sun in our faces. There was also lots of fesh-fesh. It was difficult. But it was such a beautiful stage; I'd almost like to come back here! The big descent was wonderful, very long. At times the stage was really magnificent. There was a ten-kilometre section alongside the beach, which was nice too. After that, there were lots of little tracks that were very rocky and the quad was bouncing from side to side. In the end, it was a tiring stage and now there is a long way to get to the bivouac”. Source: yamaha-racing.com

James Ellison “I am really happy to be part of this team and the championship again as I feel that I still have unfinished business. I have seen how the championship has unfolded this year and I am really looking forward to coming back. The level of competition is definitely very high and you could see that from last season, but I know this is a strong team who are hugely capable and share the same goals. I am now looking forward to testing the Milwaukee Yamaha as the technical rules have changed since I last raced in BSB, which should suit me better as I prefer riding without traction control! I know I achieved a lot this year and now I am returning focused and confident about 2013. In 2009 I was second in the championship and I then joined SMR and we would have been fighting for the title if it hadn’t been for injury so I know that together we have the ability to put the Milwaukee Yamaha at the front; I am certainly not coming back to just make up the numbers!” Josh Waters “I am really happy and I still can’t believe I have been given this opportunity. I visited the Silverstone round this year and the championship was a big surprise to me as it is much bigger than I was expecting. I won my second Superbike title in Australia this year and I feel like that I have accomplished that goal and now I am ready for a new challenge. I am a realist and know that I am going to have to work hard at it this season but this is a huge step in the right direction for me, especially to work with a championship-winning team. I am hoping that the Showdown format will work in my favour as it gives me a chance to learn some of the tracks and I want to be in the top six. I can’t wait to get started and hopefully we can do enough to be there when it counts. I want to be successful in the championship and I am dedicated to succeeding with the Milwaukee Yamaha team.” Shaun Muir - Team Owner “Everyone at SMR have been working tirelessly since the end of last season to ensure that we return in the strongest possible position in 2013. We want to win back the BSB title and with the combination of James and Josh, plus an exciting new title partner with Milwaukee, I believe we have the foundations to return refreshed and ready to come out fighting. It is fantastic to have James back in the team as we know that he is a proven title contender with lots of experience. I am also pleased to welcome Josh for his debut season in the championship; he is a young, fast and upcoming Australian rider who will bring a new dynamic to the team. I want to thank everyone involved with the Milwaukee Yamaha team and now we begin to look ahead to our testing programme to ensure we are ready for the opening round of the season at Brands Hatch.” Source: yamaha-racing.com

Joel, obvious question, how are you feeling and how is the build-up to be back on the bike? JR: Quite good! I had a fitness text last Thursday and my level was really good, which I was glad to hear about. At the moment I have around 65% strength in my leg and I’m working on improving that in the next couple of weeks. I have been doing a lot of upper body training because this is an important stage of the year to be ready for next season. I’ll be on the 450 now so strength work has been key. All the hours you put in now will pay off when the racing starts and I’m really keen to get back into it. I feel like I have been away a long time! So just a month to wait then? JR: Yes, a few more weeks. December 25th is the day I have arranged. That is when I expect to be fully ready to start riding again. On Christmas day I will be in a camper at the track and as soon as it is first light then I will be up raring to go! What kind of things will you be doing up until that day? JR: I have a small gym at my house with all the equipment I need and I’m in there five times a week. Every day I am out cycling, whether on a mountain bike or Cyclocross – which is a popular sport we have here in Belgium – so I’m pretty busy. The weather here is actually quite good at the moment so if it stays dry then I’ll also be spending a bit of time working on my pit-bike track. You must be keen to try the Yamaha… JR: Absolutely. I’m anxious to be honest. It was good to do these photos and put the team clothes on and take delivery of the bike but it tests your patience! Have you talked with the Monster Energy Yamaha team about testing and how you’d like the race bike to be? JR: We’ve made plans but we haven’t talked in-depth about the bike yet. I think I will need to ride it and get used to it a little bit before I can start to work seriously on set-up. I can make comments to the guys about how I like the Yamaha to be for me but there is only so much information you can give until you start making the laps and going for the fast times. As for testing, like I said, at the end of the month I will start and will get some good sand riding done at maybe some places like Dunkirk and then in January we have programmed a month of work in Sardinia; so I’m looking forward to that. Lastly what are your thoughts on the idea to run MX1 and MX2 together for overseas events and possibly for a final moto in 2014? JR: If you are on an MX1 bike then it won’t be so bad and I think if you make a good start then it will be hard for the MX2 guys to overtake. If they do pass you then it is because they are faster on that particular day but I don’t think it will happen so much. It is something that could work for the overseas races simply because the gates tend to be smaller but for the majority of races there is no need. If we have to do it then of course it is something we need to adjust to. Source: yamaha-racing.com