Well it's just been confirmed: Rossi and Edwards will be riding Camel Yamaha's next season.

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.

Somehow I think that from a PR point of view Camel will be better off with Rossi than they would have been with Biaggi. :think: Must say, I preferred the Gauloises paintjob though.

I guess Yamaha really want to piss Altadis off!!! :lol:

First Honda lose the best rider in the world to Yamaha, then they lose a whole load of sponsorship money too. I wonder if we'll see a Gauloises Honda next year in response, it might be a bit late for Sito Pons though.

Very true, I think I sense a lawsuit. :lol:

Here's a quote from a Gauloises press release from last month:

Altadis considers that Yamaha is still bound by a legal obligation that prevents Yamaha from collaborating with sponsors whose products compete directly with the Gauloises brand or with Altadis products for the 2006 season.

Hmm.

Camel
17

Gauloises
16

Honestly, if things get any bitchier I'll start to wonder if we're talking about F1. :lol:

You'll never guess what just landed in my inbox. :lol:

ALTADIS REQUESTS ARBITRATION TO RESOLVE ITS DISPUTE WITH YAMAHA

Altadis has initiated arbitration proceedings, seeking substantial compensation from Yamaha for the damages arising out of what Altadis considers to be a material breach by Yamaha of the two companies' two-year sponsorship agreement.

Altadis seeks both pecuniary damages and declaratory relief with respect to particular obligations that Altadis maintains have survived the termination of the parties' contractual relationship.

Altadis has requested an urgent decision in this regard, in the nature of an interim order obligating Yamaha to refrain from collaborating with any sponsor whose products compete directly with Altadis products for the coming season.

Altadis regrets that the negotiations to define the terms of a settlement that would have resolved the dispute without the need to resort to arbitration have proved fruitless.

I guess they're looking for a big bag of money from Yamaha. They might not be to bothered though - maybe JTI will pick up the tab???

Quite possible I suppose. One thing's for sure, they aren't strapped for cash. The saga continues, too:

YAMAHA DENIES ALTADIS' WRONGFUL STATEMENTS

On January 9, 2006 Altadis abruptly announced that it had initiated arbitration proceedings against Yamaha arising out of an alleged breach by Yamaha of the two companies' sponsorship agreement for Yamaha's factory racing team. Yamaha would like to clarify several points in light of Altadis' wrongful statements.

First, Yamaha no longer has any sponsorship agreement with Altadis, as the previous sponsorship agreement was terminated in all respects for the 2006 season.

Second, Yamaha strongly denies that it has ever breached its previous sponsorship agreement with Altadis.

Third, in the absence of any agreement in force between Altadis and Yamaha, there exists no legal obligation preventing Yamaha from contracting with a tobacco sponsor or any other sponsor for the 2006 season.

Yamaha deplores the fact that Altadis' unreasonable actions have frustrated Yamaha's good-faith efforts to resolve this matter in an amicable fashion, and has seen fit to make its unmerited allegations in a public forum.

To date, Yamaha has not been notified of any Request for Arbitration from Altadis. In any event, Yamaha will defend its rights vigorously, and reserves the rights to claim both pecuniary damages and declaratory relief with respect to the wrong and disparaging statements made by Altadis and the harm wilfully caused by its frivolous conduct, for the sake of Yamaha and all of its fans and supporters worldwide who continue to support and sustain the MotoGP sport and Yamaha's MotoGP factory racing team.


One thing you can be sure of - Biaggi can't be feeling to pleased about Rossi being on a Camel Yamaha. :lol:

Talk about doing your dirty washing in public :lol: This one's going to run and run...

FAILED NEGOTIATIONS PROMPTED ARBITRATION

Contrary to the information provided by Yamaha in its January 10th press release, Altadis' decision to initiate arbitration proceedings was taken --as Yamaha well knows-- after many months of negotiations during which Altadis sought ways to release Yamaha from its obligations to Altadis.

Altadis would like MOTOGP and motor sports fans worldwide to know that Altadis' commitment to motor racing and MOTOGP remains as strong as ever.

Altadis sincerely believes that its decision to seek redress in arbitration for what Altadis considers to be Yamaha's wrongful conduct is good for the sport, which can only benefit from rulings that require participants to honor their contractual undertakings.

Altadis is confident that its position, which it believes advocates the survival of fair play in professional motorcycle racing, will be vindicated in arbitration.

As Yamaha has been formally notified of the initiation of
the proceedings, Altadis' response to Yamaha's allegations concerning the dispute will be given to the Arbitral Tribunal, who will have the final say.