Lorenzo gets new team manager

Yamaha has announced that Dutchman Wilco Zeelenberg will become Jorge Lorenzo's team manager at the Japanese squad from this year

Zeelenberg joins the MotoGP squad from the Japanese manufacturer's World Supersport team, where he won the world championship in 2009 with Cal Crutchlow.

A former racer, Zeelenberg joined Yamaha Motor Europe as a test rider and technical coordinator in 2008.

"I would like to congratulate Wilco on his appointment and wish him every success in his new challenge," said team boss Lin Jarvis. "I am confident that the team and Jorge will benefit from Wilco's long experience as a rider, a Yamaha racing technician and more recently as a successful Team Manager.

"We look forward to integrating him into the Fiat Yamaha Team working alongside Davide Brivio, both Team Managers being under the supervision of Team Director Masahiko Nakajima."

Zeelenberg added: "After nine years working for Yamaha I am very proud to be joining the official Yamaha MotoGP team. It's a big reward and I am very excited about this new challenge. Jorge is a fantastic rider and I cannot wait to start working with him and the crew.

"The team is already a well-oiled machine and I am thrilled to be fitting into it. It's clear that there are four main contenders for the title and Jorge is one of those four. I am a very competitive person, I will do everything I can in the team to create the right atmosphere and fight for the championship title."