Yamaha has officially joined fel♈low manufacturers KTM, Ducati and Honda in committing to MotoGP for the next five-year contract cycle with Dorna, from 20🌱22-2026.

"Yamaha this year is celebrating its 60th year in grand prix competition," 𓄧said Y🌼amaha Racing managing director Lin Jarvis.

"We startꦏed in 1961, which was just five or six years after the company was born. So we are definitely committed to the sport of MotoGP and road racing in general.

"Yamaha h🧸as signed an agreement with Dorna for 2022-2026. I'm very happy fo🦋r that and that's a sign of our intention."

While the agreement come💙s as no surprise, with remaining factories Suzuki and Aprilia also ex෴pected to renew, the question of Yamaha's future satellite team is less clear.

Petronas is currently Yamaha's satellite partner, making history with the first 'Independent' M1✤ 𝔍race wins last season, leading much of the world championship with Fabio Quartararo and eventually finishing second in the standings with Franco Morbidelli.

But like all the Independent teams, theꦍ Petronas-Yamaha contract is up for renewal at the end o♍f this season.

While ext𒁃ending may seem the obvious choice for both parties, Yamaha Racing managing director Lin Jarvis also expects the VR46 team to be a 'candidate' should they take up an option to enter the premier-class.

"In terms of 2022, it's true that we had a three year agreement with the Petronas team, which expires at൲ the end of this year," Jarvis said.

"So this y🌄ear will be a 🌸period of renegotiation with the satellite teams in general.

"I believe it's not only Yamaha that𝕴 will be in the middle of negotiations, there is talk from what I understand of maybe Aprilia will change and have a Factory team [own grid places] in the championship.

"Then also Suzuki, will they enter or not a satellite team? Will Ducati maintain two satellite teams? And what will Yamaha and Honda do, for instance? KT🔴M seems to be the only one that's clear at the moment with their solid commitment together with Tech3.

"In our situation, definitely the P🦂etronas Yamaha team have done extremely well since we start🍸ed with them two years ago. Last year they won six races and their rider finished second in the championship.

"So there's no question in terms of their capabiliti𝓡es and capacity as a team.

"Will VR46 enter or not? From what I understand they have an option, w🍎♛hich expires at some time, and I believe they are seriously considering to enter.

"So Yamaha, we will discuss with the candidates that are available, which will surely be Petronas and - if they enter - VR46, because of our long term relationship also with the company👍 and Valentino.

"Nothing has started yet.༒ There are no negotiations shall we say on the table at this moment, bu💮t that definitely begin in April and May."