The Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team is set to undergo a major restructuring ahead of the 2022 season, according to The Race’s sources in the MotoGP paddock.
Parent body the Sepang International Circuit has hinted at changes to come in a statement released today confirming that title sponsor Petronas would be departing at the end of the current season.
The press release was issued by the circuit but not by the team.
“Sepang International Circuit and Petronas wish to announce today that both parties have mutually agreed to end their partnership in relation to the title partnership of the Petronas Sepang Racing Team,” said the statement.
“The partnership will end at the conclusion of the 2021 MotoGP season.
“Further to this development, the team is expected to make an announcement regarding its continuation in MotoGP from 2022 onwards under a new independent entity.”
It’s believed by The Race’s sources that the new ‘independent entity’ will involve a buy-out of the team, with team principal Razlan Razali and team director Johan Stigefelt set to take over the overall ownership from the Sepang International Circuit alongside the day-to-day running of the team, which will only have B-spec Yamahas in 2022.
The team’s management have repeatedly declined to comment on the rumours about Petronas and the future at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, instead only stating that details would be revealed at Silverstone in two weeks’ time.
The MotoGP team was launched in 2019 when the Malaysian circuit joined forces with local petrochemical giant Petronas to expand its successful Moto2 and Moto3 efforts to the premier class.
Partnering up with Yamaha and signing Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli, the project had an impressive rookie season that featured poles and podiums before taking an incredible six victories in 2020 – more than any other team.
Given its impressive success last year, it’s not entirely clear yet why Petronas has decided to split with the team after only its first three-year agreement together.
However, in the statement released, head of strategic communications Datin Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz drew particular attention to the team’s efforts together in research and development – work that is believed to have been somewhat curtailed since the start of the project.
“We entered into this partnership with SIC to showcase our R&D capabilities,” she said, “and we are proud that Petronas Fluid Technology Solutions have been instrumental towards establishing the team’s status as a championship contender.
“Together, we have created some standout moments in the sport, serving as an indication that we have achieved what we set out to do and we feel it is the right time for us to conclude the partnership.”
It’s also not clear yet who is likely to take over as the team’s new title sponsor.
But one contender could well be Italian energy producer WithU, which has been forging close links with the team since their debut in MotoGP and which already has a motorsport role as title sponsor with Hyundai Rally Team Italia.
