[theophil]

et on continue !!!!!

Tobacco giant Altadis has stepped up the war-of-words with former MotoGP partner Yamaha by rubbishing the claims made by the motorcycle manufacturer in the opening skirmish of what appears to be an ugly legal battle over a truncated sponsorship agreement.

Having announced that, regretfully, it felt it had no option but to seek legal redress for the early termination of the partnership with Yamaha, and the team's subsequent link-up with rival Japan Tobacco, Altadis claims to have been saddened by the Japanese company's reply, which itself claimed that allegations made were 'wrongful'. Such is the animosity between the two parties.

The latest salvo fired by Gauloises' parent company insists that it had been willing to seek an amicable solution to the situation, as a statement released today [Wednesday] explains.

"Contrary to the information provided by Yamaha in its 10 January press release, Altadis' decision to initiate arbitration proceedings was taken - as Yamaha well knows - after many months of negotiations during which Altadis sought ways to release Yamaha from its obligations to Altadis," the tobacco company's missive reads.

"Altadis would like MotoGP and motorsports fans worldwide to know that Altadis' commitment to motor racing and MotoGP remains as strong as ever. Altadis sincerely believes that its decision to seek redress in arbitration for what Altadis considers to be Yamaha's wrongful conduct is good for the sport, which can only benefit from rulings that require participants to honour their contractual undertakings.

"Altadis is confident that its position, which it believes advocates the survival of fair play in professional motorcycle racing, will be vindicated in arbitration. As Yamaha has been formally notified of the initiation of the proceedings, Altadis' response to Yamaha's allegations concerning the dispute will be given to the Arbitral Tribunal, who will have the final say."

Altadis has since revealed that it was switching its Gauloises backing to the Kronos WRC team which will run double world champion Sebastien Loeb in 2006.