Renault’s Alpine makes MotoGP move with title winners Pramac

Renault’s Alpine makes MotoGP move with title winners Pramac

Renault’s sporty car brand Alpine will sponsor Prima Pramac Yamaha, winner of last year’s MotoGP riders’ world championship with Spaniard Jorge Martin, both sides announced on Monday.

Alpine, which competes in Formula One and World Endurance Racing, will be the ‘main partner’ of the Italy-based team this season.

Pramac, last year, became the first independent team to win the riders’ title since Valentino Rossi did so on a non-factory Honda in 2001.

This year, having switched from Ducati to Yamaha with Martin moving to Aprilia, it will have Australian Jack Miller and Portugal’s Miguel Oliveira as its MotoGP lineup with the same specification bikes as the factory Yamaha team.

Alpine’s Formula One lineup consists of Jack Doohan, the 22-year-old son of Australian MotoGP great Mick Doohan, and Frenchman Pierre Gasly.

“In addition to Formula One and the World Endurance Championship, Alpine is strengthening its presence in Motorsport by becoming involved in the MotoGP World Championship,” said Alpine’s sales director Antononi Labate.

“This alliance will create new experiences for customers and fans passionate about motorsport.”

Renault’s Italian chief executive Luca de Meo was a director of Fiat when the car giant sponsored the Yamaha factory MotoGP team from 2007-10.

Former title-winning Suzuki MotoGP boss Davide Brivio, now at the Trackhouse Racing team, was Alpine’s F1 racing director in 2021.

Formula One’s owners Liberty Media last year announced a takeover of MotoGP’s parent company Dorna. The acquisition is being investigated by the European Commission.