The press release quotation from Valentino Rossi reads:
“The presentation of the new season is always a special moment. On this occasion I see for the first time my new bike, the new colours and new lines. Every time for me this is a big emotion. To present the bike and team means that a new season is about to start. The desire to start a new challenge is really huge, especially after the positive end of the 2014 season. Finishing second in the world championship was important, but this year the goal is even higher. Yamaha have worked so hard during the winter, and me too. I am in good shape, I feel good, I’m training a lot and I’m ready to begin the hard work at the Sepang Test. The new bike is really beautiful; I really like it. Now I want to meet up with my team and work with all of them to achieve the best possible results. It will be a very interesting season. I will have very strong opponents, starting from my teammate who will surely be better prepared this winter. It will be important to do a good test and arrive at the first race with everything in the right place, then we will be ready to fight for victory”.

The press release quotation from Jorge Lorenzo reads:
“This event always means a special date for all of us. It’s the official kick off of the season and I have to say it’s usually a special moment because we can see the final project and also the new livery. I love the new bike and I’m waiting to test it as soon as possible. With this unveiling starts a new challenge, an amazing challenge. I am much more motivated than ever to start this season. I have prepared well physically and I feel good mentally too. This year we have high hopes with the new M1 because in 2014 we found at the end a good base and we could fight for the podium regularly during the second half of the season. I am convinced that this year things will change and both Yamaha and I will put all our efforts to try to achieve the goal that is simple: to fight for the title. Last year many things happened but I’ve also learned a lot and I think we can compensate and make a great year. I’m waiting to kick off the coming season in Qatar!“

Each rider even posed on a leaned over bike for ersatz action shots.


If I had been masking out the background, I think I’d have removed the glossy reflection beneath Rossi’s shoe, and maybe blurred the tires a bit so it’s not so obvious the bike is stationary. But even with the reflections of the studio lights, they’re pretty cool shots. I find it interesting that while Rossi posed with his elbow on the ground, Lorenzo didn’t.

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