Suzuki’s MotoGP new-boy Maverick Vinales thought that an approach by Suzuki to race in their new MotoGP after only half a season in Moto2 was a joke but says he is looking forward to racing with Rossi, Marquez and Lorenzo.

Although the team line-up has been an open secret for months, the squad was unveiled today at the Intermot Show in Germany, with Vinales partnering Aleix Espargaro in 2015.

“At first it felt like it was a joke! I was in my first Moto2 season and, all of a sudden, a big factory like Suzuki wanted me. At first you think to yourself, ‘They will want to talk to me in a couple of years’, but ultimately they wanted me for next year and we were able to reach an agreement. This is like a dream. I am very happy to be moving up to the premier class and I’m eager to get going,” said the Spaniard.

It is going to be fantastic to compete with guys like Valentino, Marc and Jorge, that should be amazing. It is a very nice project, but we will have to work our very hardest and be very competitive.”