PETALING JAYA: Petronas Sepang Racing Team (SRT) principal Datuk Razlan Razali is optimistic they can extend their MotoGP relationship with Yamaha beyond 2021.
Only the Red Bull KTM and Gresini teams have officially signed with Dorna to remain on the grid for the next five-year term, starting from 2022.
The Malaysian team’s contract with both Yamaha and title sponsor Petronas are up for renewal at the end of this year.
“We want to remain in the MotoGP paddock as long as possible, ” Razali said on GPone.com.
“Besides having some options (with) other manufacturers, we are quite comfortable with our relationship with Yamaha and the tremendous support they have given us from year one.
“So I think it’s in the interests of Yamaha, the team and Petronas to see if we can develop the relationship for an additional five years.
“We are talking already, of course it will take a bit of time, but by the middle of the year we should finalise our plans for 2022 and beyond.”
It will not be hard to convince their sponsors if results are of any indication. Despite just two years in the sport, Petronas SRT were one of the success stories last season.
They claimed six race victories (more than any other team) – shared equally between Frenchman Fabio Quartararo and world championship runner-up Franco Morbidelli of Italy.
Quartararo has left the team and is replaced by nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi.
