Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. has entered into contract with JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation (Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan). The agreement welcomes the oil and energy company as a new Official Sponsor of Yamaha Factory Racing's premier class Team competing in the MotoGP World Championship.

Yamaha Factory Racing continues in 2012 with 2010 World Champion Jorge Lorenzo (ranked 2nd in 2011), and Texan team mate Ben Spies, now starting his third season of full MotoGP competition and poised for even greater success (ranked 5th in 2011). The YZR-M1 factory machine they will compete on is newly developed with an increased 1000cc engine displacement in line with the new regulations (up from 800cc last season). The partnership with JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation commences on January 31st in conjunction with the first official test session of 2012 at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. The test marks the start of the Team’s campaign to reclaim the MotoGP World Championship title.

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