WATCH: Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Launch 2021

For the first time since 2012, the factory Yamaha MotoGP team goes into a season without Valentino Rossi on board

WATCH: Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Launch 2021

WITH Valentino Rossi riding in 2021 for the Petronas SRT satellite team, the factory Yamaha MotoGP squad enter its first season without the seven-time champion on board.

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Launch 2021 | Yamaha's new era with Quartararo, Vinales

For this year, Yamaha is pinning its hopes on the youthful and uber-talented pairing of Maverick Viñales and 21-year-old Fabio Quartararo.

It may not be all plain sailing for the factory-back pairing though, as last season highlighted some issues with the Monster Energy-backed machine.

It seemed to lack the speed, and good fortune, of the satellite machine, and despite Yamaha as a manufacturer winning more races than any other, only one of those came from within the factory camp.

Quartararo and his teammate Franco Morbidelli claimed three wins apiece – and that was despite Mobidelli riding a 2019 version of the Yamaha M1.

Before the riders can think about winning races in 2021, there is some work to be done around the bike and the handling, particularly on the way into the corner.

For the inside line on how Crash.net, thinks they’ll do this year, check out this video reveal.