Yamaha Factory Racing is Yamaha's wholly-owned full-Factory Team in MotoGP. The team was founded in 1999 following the retirement of Wayne Rainey, who had run a Factory-supported team in the 500cc class for the previous two years. A new company - Yamaha Motor Racing - was set up in the Netherlands to manage all but the technical side of Yamaha's international racing activities and to run the team.

In 2005 Yamaha Motor Racing as a company completed the move from the Netherlands in order to create a single Yamaha MotoGP European operation in Italy, strengthening and centralising the management of the team and all MotoGP operations. Although responsibility for the technical aspects of MotoGP remains predominantly at Yamaha's Technology Development Division in Japan, a number of Japanese engineering staff complete the European MotoGP set-up.

The team is based in Gerno di Lesmo, close to Monza, as are the logistics and the engine management sectors. This facility was re-built during 2008 and a new, state-of-the-art facility was opened giving the team a superb new headquarters with all technical, logistical, managerial and communications departments under one roof. Massimo Meregalli stepped over from managing the Yamaha World Superbike Team to become the Yamaha Factory Racing Team Director at the beginning of 2011. Wilco Zeelenberg is now in his fourth year as Yamaha Factory Racing’s Team Manager whilst also focusing providing input to Jorge Lorenzo’s side of the garage during race weekends.

YAMAHA FACTORY RACING STATISTICS

2013
Jorge Lorenzo (ESP)
Valentino Rossi (ITA)

2012
Jorge Lorenzo (ESP) – 1st MotoGP World Championship, 6 wins and 16 podiums 

Ben Spies (USA) – 10th MotoGP World Championship
Team Director: Massimo Meregalli

2011
Jorge Lorenzo (ESP) – 2nd MotoGP World Championship, 3 wins and 10 podiums
Ben Spies (USA) – 5th MotoGP World Championship, 1 win and 4 podiums
Team Director: Massimo Meregalli

2010
Jorge Lorenzo (ESP) - 1st MotoGP World Championship, 9 wins and 16 podiums
Valentino Rossi (ITA) - 3rd MotoGP World Championship, 2 wins and 10 podiums
Constructors World Champion
Team World Champion
Team Director: Masahiko Nakajima-san

2009
Valentino Rossi (ITA) - 1st MotoGP World Championship, 6 wins and 13 podiums
Jorge Lorenzo (ESP) - 2nd MotoGP World Championship, 4 wins and 12 podiums
Constructors World Champion
Team World Champion
Team Director: Masahiko Nakajima-san

2008
Valentino Rossi (ITA) - 1st MotoGP World Championship, 9 wins and 16 podiums
Jorge Lorenzo (ESP) - 4th MotoGP World Championship, 1 win and 6 podiums
Constructors World Champion
Team World Champion
Team Director: Masahiko Nakajima-san

2007
Valentino Rossi (ITA)
Colin Edwards (USA)
Team Director - Davide Brivio

2006
Valentino Rossi (ITA) - 2nd in MotoGP World Championship, 5 race wins
Colin Edwards (USA) - 7th in MotoGP World Championship
Yamaha Factory Team - 2nd in MotoGP Team World Championship
Team Director - Davide Brivio

2005
Valentino Rossi (ITA) - 1st in MotoGP World Championship, 11 race wins
Colin Edwards (USA) - 4th in MotoGP World Championship
Yamaha Factory Team - 1st in MotoGP Team World Championship
Team Director - Davide Brivio

2004
Valentino Rossi (ITA) - 1st in MotoGP World Championship, 9 race wins
Carlos Checa (SPA) - 7th in MotoGP World Championship
Yamaha Factory Team - 1st in MotoGP Team World Championship
Team Director - Davide Brivio

2003
Carlos Checa (SPA) - 7th in MotoGP World Championship
Marco Melandri (ITA) - 15th in MotoGP World Championship
Team Director - Davide Brivio

2002
Max Biaggi (ITA) - 2nd in MotoGP World Championship, 2 race wins
Carlos Checa (SPA) - 5th in MotoGP World Championship
Team Director - Davide Brivio

2001
Max Biaggi (ITA) - 2nd in 500cc World Championship, 3 race wins
Carlos Checa (SPA) - 6th in 500cc World Championship
Team Director - Lin Jarvis