Ahead of Monday's confirmation that Lorenzo will move to Ducati in 2017, Yamaha changed plans its at the last minute and decided to place Lin Jarvis, its MotoGP boss, in the official press conference ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.

It's rare to see a team boss sitting alongside the real stars of the show on a Thursday, something that leads one to suspect that it was an initiative from the Japanese manufacturer.

What Yamaha appears to be trying to do is to respond to any questions about Lorenzo's exit and the reasons for the move - and common sense suggests that Jarvis will not have it easy.

After all, he will have had to justify to the top brass of the Japanese manufacturer the exit of Lorenzo, the reigning world champion, the rider who has won the last three titles for the company, and the man most likely to fight for the championship this year against Marc Marquez.

At this point, the conclusion to draw from this is that Yamaha has committed entirely to Valentino Rossi based on two potential reasons that could complement each other: either the management still sees the Italian as a contender to fight for the title, or it has decided to just bet on his popularity, something crucial in the current times.

The Japanese squad still has what is probably the most balanced bike on the grid, something very important to keep in mind because it helps understand the logic of the management.

Jarvis remains convinced that any rider would sign anything that's put in front of him if it meant getting his hands on one of the two works M1 bikes. But whether his calculations about costs, both financial and sporting, prove right in the long run - that's a different story.

Vinales holds all the aces

Suzuki rider Maverick Vinales is first on the shortlist to replace Lorenzo, but the Catalan has the most cards up his sleeve.

Given that Marquez is set to continue with Honda, Vinales is the most coveted rider on the grid. He is also Spanish, a relevant factor given that Yamaha's main sponsor is Movistar.

But it appears that Vinales leaving Suzuki for Yamaha is not a given - not only because he is also talking with Honda, but because he is aware of the critical situation Yamaha now faces.

What's more, 'Mack' is loyal to Suzuki, where he feels at home and where he has a very good offer to stay beyond the end of 2016.

The Hamamatsu company gives him preferential treatment, and that's something worth keeping in mind, especially if the alternative is sharing the garage with Rossi after the Italian 'got rid' of Lorenzo.

Yamaha's situation is curious, going from having two riders who guaranteed strong results and sales, to having to offer more than it would like to a 21-year-old who has yet to finish on the podium in a MotoGP race.