2016 Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha Road Racing Team Announced
Cypress, CA – February 11, 2016 – Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., is proud to announce that its Yamaha Extended Service (Y.E.S.)/Graves/Yamaha road racing team will be competing in the Supersport class of the 2016 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship. The announcement was made by Keith McCarty, Motorsports Racing Division Manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
The team’s riders for 2016 include defending MotoAmerica Supersport Champion JD Beach and last year’s third-place MotoAmerica Supersport Championship finisher Garrett Gerloff. JD will pilot the #1 Y.E.S./Graves/Yamaha YZF-R6, and Garrett will be aboard the identically prepared #31 R6.
“We’re proud to continue our long-standing relationship with Yamaha Extended Service and Graves Motorsports as title sponsors and vital partners with our team,” commented Keith McCarty. “The Yamaha R6 is the dominant bike in MotoAmerica Supersport racing, and we’re also proud that JD won 8 races, reached the podium 13 times, and earned 3 poles on his way to winning the Championship, while his teammate Garrett notched 2 wins, 10 podiums, and 2 poles to finish a strong third in the Supersport final standings. Both riders are extra-motivated this season, with JD aiming to repeat as Champion, and Garrett will undoubtedly be one of the strongest contenders for the crown.”
Reigning MotoAmerica Supersport Champion JD said, “I’m really looking forward to getting the season started in Austin this April, which is where I got my very first MotoAmerica win. I’ll be running the big target on my bike…I mean, the number 1. We’ve worked hard to get it, and we plan to run it proudly. The team and I have been putting in 195% since the checkered flag waved at New Jersey Motorsports Park to conclude the 2015 season, and we can’t wait to give it our best and keep that number 1 on our R6.”
Garrett commented, “Every year, I learn more and more about what it takes to win, and last year was no different. I changed up my program this off-season, and I’ve been working as hard as I can in some other areas of training that I’ve left off in the past. I’m confident that it will pay off in 2016. I can’t wait to get on my R6 at the first round at COTA (my home track) and ride the way I know how.”
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