(Tucson, AZ) Evan Steel Performance is proud to announce the addition of Robertino Pietri to the Tucson-based team. ESP will use the Yamaha R6 as the platform to compete in the brand new AMA Daytona Sportbike class. For Robertino, being back on Yamaha is like coming home. Racing for the Yamaha Venemotos team of Vito Ippolito in his native Venezuela, Robertino rode an R6 to the 600cc Championship in 2003. Robertino continued his relationship with Yamaha the next two years when he went over to Italy and raced in the Italian championship, first in Supersport on an R6, later in Superstock on an R1. Robertino Pietri: “I’m thrilled to be racing for ESP in the Daytona Sportbike class. After three years of riding another brand, I’m excited to be back on a Yamaha. I think the R6 is the best bike for the Daytona Sportbike class. This new class is going to be tough, but, with Evan Steel Performance, and the support from Yamaha Venemotos and Vito Ippolito, I believe the team can give me the equipment to achieve our goals this year. I can’t thank Evan and Phil enough for giving me this chance. I also want to take the opportunity to thank Chris and John Ulrich, the roadracingworld.com team, and my former mechanics James Lickwar, Scott Harwell, Aaron and the rest of the crew. I’m heading home to Venezuela for training and to meet with my sponsors, so I can return 100 percent focused on this new challenge. I can’t wait for the Daytona 200 under the lights and the 2009 season!” Evan Steel: “We at ESP are excited to be working with another young, raw talent in 2009. Our program is all about finding young talent and helping them develop their skills into consistent, front running form. With Robertino, we see a lot of the same qualities we saw in Chris Peris and Ben Thompson. With the new AMA Pro Racing rules aimed at leveling the playing field, the Yamaha R6, and Robertino, we fully intend for our modest team to upset some of the bigger teams in 2009.” Phil Allison (co-owner Evan Steel Performance): “The way this off-season has gone, I can’t wait for the season to begin. We have a new talented rider, new manufacturer, new class, and new rules that help the small teams like us. We got a podium last year under the old rules, we’re aiming for even more this year.” About Evan Steel Performance: Evan Steel Performance is a small, personal, specialized shop located in Tucson, Arizona that deals with all aspects of motorcycle road racing. ESP bikes have had some of the highest trap speeds in their classes at AMA Nationals, as well as the highest top speed at start/finish at the 50th annual Macau Grand Prix. In 2008, ESP scored a very rare privateer podium at the VIR AMA National in the Superstock class with Chris Peris. ESP is open to any level of racing, from basic race prep to planning a season at the Nationals. ESP can be reached at (520) 294 3050 or www.evansteelperformance.com