The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team didn‘t rest on their laurels in between the first and second 2017 official IRTA MotoGP pre-season test. After a first successful stint of Yamaha‘s ‘pre-season media tour’, Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi went on to meet their fans and the media in Thailand and Vietnam to complete their Asian promotions and get in the right mindset to start the 2017 MotoGP season.
Energised from the first half of the ’Asian media tour’ that had brought him to Indonesia and the Philippines, Viñales travelled to Thailand on Febuary 11th to start the second half of the promotions the day after.
Following a morning photo shoot, the young Spaniard attended the Yamaha Custom-Made Battle and was happily surprised by the large crowd that had assembled at the EM Quartier in Bangkok to see him take part in the presentation on stage.
After posing with the creators of the Yamaha Custom-Made Battle bikes and the fans, Viñales headed straight to the Yamaha Rev Community where again a large sea of spectators had assembled to catch a glimpse of the new Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider. Warmly greeted as he entered the stage, Viñales stayed for a while to help present the Yamaha YZF-R15 before he quickly had to make his way to the airport.
After his lightning stop in Bangkok, the young Spaniard jetted off to visit Vietnam. There he was joined by Valentino Rossi the next day when they attended a press meeting. During the presentation the riders got to add the flag of Vietnam on the YZR-M1 as a token of appreciation for Yamaha Motor Vietnam‘s support to the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team.
After the press meeting in Hồ Chí Minh, Rossi and Viñales were in the mood for some action and headed to the YRider Event, where Rossi was surprised with an early birthday cake (he will turn 38 on February 16th). Taking time to talk on the podium and wave, the riders also made sure to entertain the fans off stage and grabbed their helmets to head out on a small circuit aboard 2017 Yamaha Exciter and NVX 155 scooters.
These final days constituted a successful ending to the Yamaha‘s ‘2017 Asian promotional tour’, which has brought the entire Yamaha-family – including the Yamaha dealers, distributors and fans – closer.
The Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team now make their way to Australia for the Phillip Island MotoGP Official Test from Febuary 15 – 17th (circuit time).
Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko