[pickle.of.doom]

Looks like Colin and Valentino will be riding for Camel this year.

http://superbikeplanet.com/2006/Jan/060109a.htm

This just in from Yamaha:

Yamaha Factory Racing joins forces with JTI and CAMEL

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. Announces the start of a new partnership with JT International (JTI), a subsidiary of Japan Tobacco Inc., whose brand CAMEL will become the new title sponsor of Yamaha's Factory MotoGP Team for 2006.

The Yamaha Factory MotoGP Team, consisting of reigning-World Champion Valentino Rossi and his team-mate Colin Edwards, will be known as the "Camel Yamaha Team" in 2006.

Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing Lin Jarvis commented "Yamaha is very excited to enter into this new partnership with JTI. JTI has been involved in motorsport at the highest level for many years and has been an active sponsor at the top level in the MotoGP class for the past three seasons. We look forward to working with JTI to enhance the respective images of our brands and to challenge together for victory, as Yamaha enters its "next 50 years" and aims to retain its MotoGP titles in 2006."

"A new chapter in the history of Camel in motorsport is just beginning", commented Roberto Zanni, JTI's Regional President for Europe, "After three years of great satisfaction in the premier class of the World Road Racing Championship, we are today launching a new challenge for the title. Our new partnership with Yamaha, the historic, championship-winning Japanese manufacturer, will be highly motivating for us and it will be an honour to be by their side throughout the 2006 season. We share the same passion and desire for victory and, I am sure, success will not be long in coming."

The Camel Yamaha Team will begin its 2006 campaign in Sepang, Malaysia with a three-day test on 23rd, 24th and 25th January.

I thought Valentino wouldn't ride for a tobacco sponsor? Guess he probably has little choice. If this was forced on him, then I truly believe that this is his last season on 2 wheels.

 

[snadamo]

:jd:


WOW, now I want to see some pics of what these bikes are going to look like!

 

[bumblebee]

Isn't it amazing what some people will/won't do depending on the number of zeros after the 1 on the check???:wink: :lol:

 

[ShanMan14]

I hear they have a "smoking" ride this year. :leaving:

 

[Pigface1]

:jd:


WOW, now I want to see some pics of what these bikes are going to look like!

Diecast time.

 

[twisty]

Well Yam wanted to get away cig companies but the check made them change their minds.

 

[DLIT]

:jd:


WOW, now I want to see some pics of what these bikes are going to look like!

:iagree:

 

[pickle.of.doom]

I wonder where this leaves Biaggi... He was the one who had Camel in his back pocket supposedly.

 

[jeeps84]

I thought Valentino wouldn't ride for a tobacco sponsor? Guess he probably has little choice. If this was forced on him, then I truly believe that this is his last season on 2 wheels.

I remember him saying something to that effect.

I wonder where this leaves Biaggi... He was the one who had Camel in his back pocket supposedly.

I hope, In the dirt where he should stay.:2cents:

 

[bumblebee]

I wonder where this leaves Biaggi... He was the one who had Camel in his back pocket supposedly.

Geez...can you sink much lower?? I mean, how many people have you pizzed off when even a tobacco company won't associate with you?? Maybe he can get a sponsor from the local leper colony???:wink: :lol:

 

[jeeps84]

Geez...can you sink much lower?? I mean, how many people have you pizzed off when even a tobacco company won't associate with you?? Maybe he can get a sponsor from the local leper colony???:wink: :lol:

Even they have standards:crazy:
Biaggi is going have to have a serious reality check about how he operates to ever get a good ride again.:2cents:

 

[fatburg]

I'm dumb. I thought Gauloises was a cigerette company, thus the GO!!!!!!! down the side of his bike for half the races. Second, doesn't Biaggi ride for Repsol or did.

Guess I need to go read some news articles and get caught up.

 

[pickle.of.doom]

Yeah that was the whole reason for the 'Go!!!', Rossi didn't want to be associated with tobacco...

 

[fatburg]

Isn't that a track specific thing not a personal thing? Not to say he doesn't endorse cigerettes I just thought it was a track rule.

Sorry I'm getting off topic of the original post. I do agree this is probably his last season, I'm just not sure it's cause he is with a cigerette sponsor.

I'm just hoping for a good year of racing.

 

[pickle.of.doom]

Yep now that I think back I think you are right, some of the countries the tracks were in forbid the ads. But I think Rossi pushed to keep the Go on longer than it needed to be. I do know for sure Rossi has stated he did NOT want to be riding for a tobacco sponsor, but that switching to the Galouises Yamaha team was his only chance to compete with HRC.