Think of the most synonymous racer/manufacturer duo you can. Schumacher and Ferrari are right at the top, with Rossi and Yamaha, am I right? Rossi is Yamaha's most successful MotoGP rider and became a brand ambassador for the OEM after he retired from GP racing, but his ties to the brand have weakened of late.
The VR46 clothing line, owned by Rossi, keeps Yamaha's MotoGP riders warm throughout the year, or at least it did, until now. The OEM has cut ties with Rossi's brand for 2025 and announced a new deal with Macron, an Italian brand, which will manufacture the team's clothing going forward.
When questioned about the change in clothing manufacturer, Yamaha team manager, Maio Meregalli, said, "It is a consequence, but not because of the clothing... Because the negotiations with the new supplier started much earlier.”
I don't fully understand the reasoning from what Meregalli said, but maybe one of you can make sense of it and leave the answer in the comments. For me, if the VR46 deal is up and running and going well, then why change it? But this isn't the only way that Yamaha and VR46 are parting ways.
