Yamaha unveiled its 2024 design on Monday morning, just before the first official pre-season test at Sepang in Malaysia. Race riders Fabio Quartararo and new signing Alex Rins revealed the new M1 machine. Yamaha is determined to bounce back this season after a challenging 2023, where they failed to win a race for the first time in two decades.
The company’s new paint scheme closely resembles last season’s, as they continue their partnership with Monster Energy. The M1 still features Yamaha’s traditional blue and black colors, with Monster’s green flashes on the sides. The dark grey and black accents, along with the Monster Energy branding, maintain the aggressive look from last year.
During Yamaha’s launch event, Team Manager Lin Jarvis emphasized the changes they have made to their approach, including the hiring of Massimo Bartolini as the technical director. Bartolini, a former Ducati employee, is the first European to hold this position within Yamaha. The team aims to follow the success of European manufacturers in MotoGP.
2021 world champion Quartararo is determined to return to winning form after a challenging 2023, where he struggled with the underpowered M1 and only achieved three podium finishes. Rins, on the other hand, is hoping for a more consistent season after a difficult year with LCR Honda, which was marred by injuries. He secured Honda’s only victory of the season at the Americas Grand Prix.