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MADRID - Spain's 250cc world champion Jorge Lorenzo has signed a two-year deal to ride for Yamaha in the MotoGP class, the Japanese manufacturer said.
"Yamaha has been watching Jorge's career with interest for some time and we are delighted that he will be joining our MotoGP line-up from next season," said Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, in a statement.
"We are sure that he will be a valuable asset for the future and we look forward to the commencement of his MotoGP career with Yamaha."
Yamaha said that the 20-year-old, who is leading the world championship with six wins this season for Aprilia, will make his deubt in 2008 aboard a factory-supported YZR-M1.
The Japanese manufacturer, whose current works team riders are five-times 500cc and MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi and Texan Colin Edwards, said next year's team and rider structure was still under consideration.
Italian Rossi, who joined Yamaha from Honda in 2004, has a contract to the end of 2008 while 33-year-old Edwards's deal expires this year.
"Signing for Yamaha fulfils a dream for me," Lorenzo said on his website.
"Becoming a MotoGP rider and forming part of a factory team like Yamaha, which is one of the most powerful and most successful in the world, is the biggest thing that could have happened to me."
- REUTERS
