Yamaha Factory Racing
Both Yamaha riders won races in Yamaha’s 50th anniversary in grand prix racing last year, with outgoing champ Jorge Lorenzo defending the MotoGP triple-crown valiantly until injury ended his challenge in Australia.
Ben Spies had an up-and-down first year in the factory team which included a first win in the Netherlands, but with the move to the 1000cc bikes he will fancy his chances of joining Lorenzo on an assault on Honda’s crowns for the ‘tuning-fork’ brand.