Five-time and reigning MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier is going to race in the 2021-2022 FIM Moto2 World Championship with American Racing Team.
Roadracingworld.com reported on this deal being in the works last week, but the move wasn’t confirmed until a press conference Friday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
In that press conference, Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. announced it was releasing 27-year-old Beaubier from the second year of his contract to take advantage of the special opportunity, and American Racing Team owner Eitan Butbul welcomed Beaubier to his team and pledged to give him everything he could to help him succeed on and off the track.
Asked about the deal, Beaubier exclusively told Roadracingworld.com, “I thought my best shot for going to Europe was on a Yamaha in World Superbike, which is what I really wanted to do, at first. But Yamaha has a lot of talent over there right now and there wasn’t an open seat for me. Nothing made sense for me to go over there.
“And then this opportunity came about with American Racing Team [when] Eitan [Butbul, team owner] started talking to my managers Bob [Moore] and Jake [Zemke]. The deal, it seemed like everything came together.
“I’m pretty hungry to go to Europe and see what I have against the World Championship guys.
“I’m also thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given by the guys here at Yamaha. I am kind of bummed to leave what we have, what we’ve created here, but I am so excited for this next chapter in my career to grow as a rider and a person.
“I know it’s going to be tough. I’m going to be racing against the best in the world, and I have a lot to learn when it comes to the bike and the team and the track and all that. But I’m ready for it. I’m excited and really looking forward to getting started.”
Not only did Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. release Beaubier from his current contract, representatives from the company thanked Beaubier for his service, presented him with a plaque to commemorate his accomplishments with Yamaha, and gave him a TAG Heuer wristwatch as a going away gift.
Yamaha did not announce who would be replacing Beaubier on the Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha MotoAmerica Superbike team.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Yamaha Wishes Beaubier Well in His Pursuit for a World Title
After a successful nine-year tenure with Yamaha in the U.S. National road racing championship, Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, has released Cameron Beaubier from the second year of his contract to allow him to pursue his dream of a World title. The five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion will campaign for the crown next season in the Moto2 Championship with the American Racing team.
Beaubier has raised the bar in the class this season, scoring 13 wins to clinch his fifth Superbike title a weekend early. With a career total of 51 victories in the class, the Californian sits third on the all-time win list behind his former teammate Josh Hayes and moved up to second on the championship list with title number five. Beaubier looks to add more wins to his tally this weekend at the season finale in Laguna Seca with the Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha Racing team.
Jim Roach – Yamaha Racing Department Manager for YMUS
“With Cameron having a dominant year and clinching his fifth AMA Superbike championship in MotoAmerica, now is the perfect time for him to move up to the world level. We’re really excited that he has a chance to join a Moto2 team with American Racing. We thank Cameron for all of the hard work he’s put in over the years and the great results that he’s brought us at Yamaha. We wish him the best moving forward.”
Cameron Beaubier – Monster Energy Attack Performance Yamaha Racing
“I am so thankful for all of the great years that I’ve had with Yamaha. It’s been an amazing journey. Tom (Halverson) and Keith (McCarty) took a chance on me when I was just a young kid coming back from Europe. It’s pretty crazy just how fast it’s gone by, these last nine years. We’re so focused every weekend to win races and be the fastest guy on the track at all times, but when you just sit back and think about all the great moments, it is pretty special. I’m really excited to go over and start this new chapter in my career in the MotoGP paddock with American Racing, but I’m also bummed to leave the family we’ve created here. I’ve had great role models, on and off the track, with everyone at Yamaha. It really is a family to me. I’ll definitely cherish these moments for sure.”
