Yamaha and Fiat will continue their partnership for a further two years; the agreement will see Fiat remain as title sponsor of Yamaha’s factory MotoGP Team, which will continue to be known as the Fiat Yamaha Team, for 2009 and 2010.

Fiat Automobiles SpA announces the renewal of its sponsorship of the official Yamaha Team, the Fiat Yamaha Team, for two years - 2009–2010 - of the world MotoGP class championship. After covering itself with glory in 2008 - the Fiat Yamaha Team driver, Valentino Rossi, won the world driver's title; the young Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo won the title for the best newcomer of the year; the Fiat Yamaha Team won the team championship while Yamaha triumphed in the manufacturers' rankings - Fiat Automobiles is to continue this original sponsorship deal that has successfully married the worlds of two and four wheels since 2007, not to mention two brands that have written some of the most memorable pages in the history of racing and the motor industry.

Lorenzo Sistino, Managing Director of Fiat Automobiles had this to say: «We are pleased that we are able to continue with this successful partnership for the next two seasons. Our Yamaha sponsorship is an asset in our Brand strategy that brings us ever closer to young people and ensures we are fully in tune with their interests and passions».

By setting up the Fiat Yamaha Team in 2007, Fiat Automobiles SpA aimed to continue its strategy of approaching the world of the young with innovative and accessible products but also through campaigns of great appeal and strong emotional impact, such as MotoGP, which is the quintessential sporting event for young motoring fans.

Over the past two years Fiat Automobiles SpA and Yamaha have forged an innovative partnership that has transcended the boundaries of ordinary sports sponsorship to venture into the realms of communication, marketing, public relations and advertising as part of one integrated platform. The winning strategy has brought specific benefits in terms of return on image and visibility for both companies over the last two years and will be taken one stage further over the next two years.

Fiat Automobiles SpA will again offer a set of special liveries reflecting special brand-related projects, that will be alternated on the two official bikes raced by Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. In this way, the identity of the Fiat and Yamaha brands will find an ideal meeting point, developing a language of design and colour that speaks directly to this young, dynamic audience.

This worldwide sponsorship deal will allow Fiat Automobiles SpA to use the image of the Fiat Yamaha Team for another two years in their respective reference markets through local trade, consumer and media campaigns. Fiat will also be able to conduct communication campaigns using the sporting image of the drivers and technicians of the Fiat Yamaha Team. More specifically, the two official Yamaha motorbikes will bear the Fiat logo on their side fairings, front dome and tank. The Fiat name will also appear on the centre, front and back and legs of the racing overalls of both drivers as well as on all the clothing of the staff and mechanics. The Fiat logo will also be present in the official team announcement and will appear inside the hospitality area, in the boxes and on the trucks used to carry the motorbikes and materials throughout the world.