Monster Energy Yamaha and Prima Pramac Racing officially unveiled their 2025 MotoGP livery during a joint launch event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The momentous occasion which took place against the iconic backdrop of the Petronas Towers on January 31, 2025, coincided with the opening day of the Sepang shakedown test marking the beginning of a new chapter for both teams as they prepare for an ambitious season ahead.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the refreshed 2025 MotoGP livery for both the Monster Energy Yamaha and Prima Pramac Racing which now serves as Yamaha’s satellite team after striking a strategic partnership deal last year.
The Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1 livery featured a bold redesign with increased use of blue, aligning with the manufacturer’s 2025 theme, “The Blue Shift.” This theme symbolizes not only aesthetic changes but also a broader strategic overhaul aimed at revitalizing their performance on the track.
Riders Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins proudly revealed their factory bikes, expressing excitement about the upcoming season and their aspirations to return to championship contention after a challenging 2024 campaign.
For Prima Pramac, this event marked their debut as Yamaha’s satellite team following a switch from Ducati machinery.
Their 2025 MotoGP livery retained the signature purple of title sponsor Prima Assicurazioni while incorporating Yamaha’s blue accents, reflecting their integration into Yamaha’s MotoGP ecosystem. The design also prominently featured branding from their new sponsor Alpine.
Riders Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira were introduced as the new faces of Prima Pramac Yamaha, bringing with them extensive experience and high expectations for success in this new collaboration.
The partnership between Monster Energy Yamaha and Prima Pramac Racing represents a pivotal shift for both entities. For the Japanese manufacturer, reestablishing a satellite team is critical after operating without one since RNF Racing’s departure in 2022.
The absence of a satellite team had left Yamaha at a disadvantage in terms of data collection and development capabilities.
The collaboration with Prima Pramac aims to address these gaps by fostering synergy between the factory and satellite teams. This includes sharing technical resources, data analysis, and development insights to accelerate progress across both outfits.
Yamaha’s restructuring extends beyond its partnership with Prima Pramac. The factory team has undergone significant leadership changes, with Lin Jarvis stepping down as Team Principal after more than two decades at the helm.
Paolo Pavesio has taken over this role while Jarvis remains involved as a Senior Advisor. Under Pavesio’s leadership, Yamaha has outlined an ambitious mid-term plan emphasizing “joint leadership” between Yamaha Motor Company and Yamaha Motor Racing.
This approach is designed to streamline operations and improve collaboration within Yamaha’s MotoGP program.
The 2024 season was particularly challenging for the factory outfit, with no podium finishes and a fourth-place finish in the constructors’ standings. 2021 MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo finished 13th overall—a stark contrast to his earlier success.
However, late-season improvements provided glimpses of potential, setting the stage for an aggressive push in 2025 MotoGP under new technical director Max Bartolini.
Notably, Yamaha plans to debut its first V4 engine later this season, signaling a major technological advancement aimed at closing the gap with its competitors.
Meanwhile, Prima Pramac Yamaha enters the new partnership on the back of a historic 2024 season in which they secured their first riders’ championship title with Jorge Martin while competing on Ducati machinery.
Their decision to switch to factory-specification Yamaha M1s underscores their confidence in Yamaha’s vision for the future.
Jack Miller returns to Pramac after previously racing for them from 2018 to 2020, while Miguel Oliveira joins from Trackhouse Aprilia. Both riders bring valuable experience that will be instrumental in adapting to the new machinery and contributing to bike development.
The 2025 MotoGP livery launch also highlighted upcoming milestones for both Monster Energy Yamaha and Prima Pramac Racing as they prepare for an intense preseason testing schedule.
The Shakedown Test began on Feb 2 at Sepang International Circuit, followed by official tests from Feb 5-7 at Sepang and Feb 12-13 at Buriram. These sessions will be crucial for evaluating new components and fine-tuning setups ahead of the season opener at the Thai Grand Prix from Feb 28 to March 2.
