Yamaha may keep dividing wall in 2011

Yamaha has dropped its biggest hint yet that a controversial dividing wall might remain in 2011, despite the departure of Valentino Rossi.

Many expected the wall to be abolished when new world champion Jorge Lorenzo is joined by American Ben Spies in 2011.

The wall was introduced in 2008 to prevent the leaking of intellectual property between Michelin and Bridgestone, with Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo using rival tyre brands.

But when MotoGP instigated a controversial single-tyre rule for 2009 and every rider raced on Bridgestone, Rossi demanded the partition remained.

The wall remained in place for 2010 and Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis said there were some obvious benefits.

He said: “My personal opinion is we used the wall for three years and in that period we won everything, so there’s not a lot of negative things about the wall. It allows the rider and the mechanics to focus on their job and that is very important for each individual athlete. We may well keep the partition.”