Meregalli: Yamaha atmosphere is great!

Massimo Meregalli says he is enjoying his new role as team director in the Yamaha MotoGP team, describing the atmosphere in the restructured team as 'great'.

The former racer assumed the role of team manager in the wake of the restructure prompted by Valentino Rossi's defection to Ducati, Meregalli stepping up from managing the World Superbike team that took Ben Spies to title glory in 2009.

With Spies joining reigning champion Jorge Lorenzo in the team this season, Meregalli believes he has been given the ideal rider pairing for his own 'rookie' year.

"This is the best thing that could happen to me, to work with them is a pleasure," he said. "The atmosphere of the team is great. I can't say anything bad about either of them because it's working very well.

"I'm still getting to know Jorge personally but I get the impression he is a really good kid, very professional and very fast. I know Ben a lot better so I can judge him more.

"I have to say in the last two years he has grown a lot, already in 2009 he was very focused but I see him now in even better shape, calm and sure about himself and very dedicated to achieving his goals."