Brivio: Lorenzo, Rossi will be teammates

There had been speculation that Yamaha would run separate one-bike teams for current star rider Rossi and 250cc champion Lorenzo, who is on the verge of a second consecutive title in the feeder category.

The rumours arose after Yamaha chose not to specify which team Lorenzo would drive for when announcing his signing two months ago, instead saying that "the exact structure of Yamaha's team and rider organisation is still under consideration."

But speaking in the press conference at Estoril, Brivio said that Lorenzo would run alongside Rossi in the same way that Colin Edwards does now.

"The factory team next year will be Valentino Rossi and Lorenzo, as already announced," Brivio said.

"It will simply be a two rider team, like every team. Jorge Lorenzo will replace Colin Edwards in our team."

Edwards is set to switch to the satellite Tech 3 outfit, although the deal has not been officially confirmed yet.

Both 2007 Tech 3 riders Sylvain Guintoli and Makoto Tamada are being replaced, as the team has already signed current World Superbike Championship leader James Toseland.