Yamaha Factory Racing

Yamaha Connects Global Partners, Industry Leaders, and MotoGP Stakeholders at Inaugural NEXUS Business Summit

Yamaha Motor Racing welcomed more than 100 guests representing over 50 brands to its headquarters in Gerno di Lesmo, Italy, for the inaugural Yamaha NEXUS Business Summit, a new platform designed in collaboration with Pramac Racing to strengthen partnerships, foster business opportunities, and explore the future growth potential of MotoGP.

Gerno di Lesmo (Italy), 25th September 2026

Yamaha Motor Racing successfully hosted the first edition of the Yamaha NEXUS Business Summit on 23 and 24 September at the Yamaha Campus in Gerno di Lesmo, Italy. Bringing together Yamaha and Pramac Racing senior management, key global partners, and influential figures from across the MotoGP ecosystem, the two-day event marked the launch of an ambitious new annual business and networking platform focused on collaboration, innovation, and shared growth.

NEXUS, meaning connection, was created to unite stakeholders from various sectors such as sport, technology, logistics, insurance, apparel, manufacturing, and mobility sectors in an environment designed to generate meaningful dialogue, strengthen business relationships, and unlock new opportunities.

The event commenced on Wednesday evening with an exclusive Executive Dinner attended by senior Yamaha executives and invited C-level guests. The programme kicked off with 15-time World Champion and MotoGP Hall of Famer Giacomo Agostini donating one of his historic racing leathers and helmets to Yamaha's growing motorsport heritage collection display in the headquarters' gallery area, straight away reinforcing the NEXUS event's connection to the rich history of Grand Prix racing.

The evening also included a guided Yamaha Experience tour of the Yamaha Campus, showcasing the wide scope of Yamaha Motor Racing (YMR), Yamaha Motor R&D Europe (YMRE), Yamaha Motor Italy (YMIT), Yamaha Music Italy as well as the brand new Motorsport Centre (whose official opening is expected to take place in late October), before guests gathered for a culinary experience curated by renowned Italian chef Carlo Cracco.

The main NEXUS Business Summit took place on Thursday, welcoming more than 100 participants representing over 50 companies and organisations. The programme combined keynote discussions, panel sessions, networking opportunities, and behind-the-scenes Yamaha experiences.

Opening the forum, Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Principal Paolo Pavesio presented Yamaha's strategic vision for the future during an exciting period of growth in the motorsports sector.

Moderated throughout the day by Radio 24 Executive Deputy Director Sebastiano Barisoni, the Business Forum focused on a central theme: how the MotoGP stakeholders can work together to increase the value of the championship whilst maintaining its authenticity.

The panel discussion brought together leading voices from the sport and business worlds, including MotoGP Group CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team Principal Paolo Campinoti, Prima Assicurazioni Co-founder and CEO George Ottathycal, Macron CEO Gianluca Pavanello, Entrepreneur & Rider Manager Simone Battistella, and distinguished MotoGP legends Andrea Dovizioso and Giacomo Agostini.

Throughout the sessions, speakers explored the evolution of modern motorsport, Yamaha's vision and objectives, the MotoGP ecosystem, the importance of fan engagement, the commercial partners' perspective, the growing impact of technological innovation on sports and media, and the riders' role as value creators both on and off the racetrack.

In addition to the forum programme, attendees participated in structured B2B networking sessions designed to connect companies with shared interests and complementary business objectives. Through private meetings and facilitated discussions, participants were able to build new relationships, exchange perspectives, and identify potential areas for future collaboration.

The event concluded with a final Yamaha Experience tour and a closing session, bringing together guests from across the MotoGP and business communities to celebrate the successful launch of what Yamaha Motor Racing intends to establish as a key annual fixture within its corporate and sporting calendar.

NEXUS represents Yamaha Motor Racing's commitment to building a stronger, more connected partner ecosystem and reflects the company's belief that the future growth of MotoGP will be driven not only by sporting success, but also by collaboration, innovation, and shared vision. As the inaugural edition demonstrated, the strongest partnerships are built through meaningful connections, creating value for all stakeholders, and helping shape the future of the sport together.

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PAOLO PAVESIO
Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing

"As we discussed during the Business Forum, the moment is now. A number of important factors are coming together, from the introduction of a new technical era with the 850cc regulations to the continued evolution of MotoGP's commercial landscape and a clear vision for the future of our sport. We often talk about MotoGP purely from a sporting perspective, but we felt there was an opportunity to create a platform dedicated to discussing the value that MotoGP can generate for the many businesses and stakeholders connected to it. That was the ambition behind NEXUS, and after this first edition I am convinced that the idea was the right one.

"NEXUS grew from a smaller B2B initiative and reflects Yamaha's commitment to contributing to the long-term growth of MotoGP. Performance on track will always remain our ultimate objective, but there is also significant value to be created away from the racetrack through stronger partnerships, new collaborations, and shared opportunities. This inaugural edition demonstrates that a new era is already underway, and Yamaha is fully committed to playing an active role in shaping that future.

"I believe Yamaha's collaborative approach is what sets us apart. We strive to bring together not only our racing teams and partners, but also riders, promoters, sponsors, Yamaha's commercial entities, manufacturing activities, and engineering expertise. The Yamaha Campus itself is a powerful symbol of those connections. It is a unique place where motorsport, R&D, manufacturing, and even music are together under one roof. It therefore feels fitting that NEXUS was born here, because I believe both the Campus and this event will continue to play an increasingly important role in creating value, fostering innovation, and strengthening the wider Yamaha ecosystem."

CARMELO EZPELETA
CEO, MotoGP Group

"My experience at the Yamaha NEXUS Business Summit was extremely positive. I found the discussions very interesting, particularly as we explored the different assets and opportunities that can help MotoGP continue to grow. I believe this was an important initiative and a valuable experience for everyone involved.

"Creating new experiences and new ways of bringing stakeholders together is exactly the kind of direction we want to pursue, and this inaugural Yamaha NEXUS event is the kind of initiative we would like to see more of in our ecosystem. By bringing together different stakeholders and perspectives, we gain a better understanding of each other's roles, and that is essential if we want to work together and grow together.

"Yamaha has been with us since the beginning and remains one of our most important partners. They have played a significant role in MotoGP's growth since 1992, which has been remarkable, and I fully expect the sport to continue growing with the same ambition and momentum over the next 20 years."

PAOLO CAMPINOTI
Team Principal, Pramac Racing

"I think we have set a really high benchmark with this first edition of NEXUS. It was an exceptionally well-organised event, and it was great to see such a positive response from our partners. We wanted to create an opportunity to bring together people from different parts of the MotoGP ecosystem around a common objective. What impressed me most was the quality of the discussions. The value of our sport continues to grow through collaboration, and it was a pleasure to be part of a project that reflects the ambition and vision that Yamaha and Pramac share for the future."