FIVE YAMAHA MOTOGP GROUP MEMBERS RETIRE FROM THE EUROPEAN AND VALENCIA GP

Valencia (Spain), 6th November 2020

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP regret to announce that five staff members, including Team Director Massimo Meregalli, will be unable to further take part in this weekend‘s European GP and next week‘s Valencia GP.

STATEMENT

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP regret to announce that five staff members, including Team Director Massimo Meregalli, will be sitting out this weekend‘s Gran Premio de Europa and next week‘s Gran Premio Comunitat Valenciana.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

– The Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP group follow very strict Covid-19 protocols. By its own initiative, the group has a mandatory additional PCR done by all the members of staff, including the riders, every Friday during race weekends.

– In the afternoon of Friday 6th November, one of the team members working in Maverick Viñales‘ crew tested positive for Covid-19. He immediately left the Ricardo Tormo circuit and has started the self-isolation required by the MotoGP official protocol.

– After a thorough risk analysis, four additional team members, who tested negative on Friday 6th November but are deemed at risk of contagion, will go into quarantine until Monday 16th November.

– None of the five members will be replaced for the European GP. The four team members who tested negative, including Team Director Meregalli, will remain in close contact with the team at the Ricardo Tormo track to offer their best support to the staff present at the track.

– Due to the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team‘s strictness in adhering to Covid-19 precautionary measures both inside and outside the track, none of the other staff are deemed to be at risk, nor are riders Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi. That said, all members will increase their vigilance and increased PCR tests will be scheduled.

Despite the obvious inconveniences caused by this latest challenge, the team‘s racing endeavours will continue relying on the collaboration and positive spirit of the Yamaha MotoGP organisation.