Yamaha Motor Europe launch extended support program in EWC
Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to announce an extended support program for private teams competing in the FIM Endurance World Championship during the 2018/2019 season, which gets underway with the Bol d’Or at Circuit Paul Ricard on 15th September.
The program, the first of its kind in the Endurance World Championship, will see participating teams competing with the Yamaha YZF-R1 rewarded for their results with increased manufacturer support, both financial and technical, as part of Yamaha Motor Europe’s commitment to the development and growth of private teams racing on the world stage.
Open to private teams racing in both the EWC and Superstock classes, the extended support program has already proved popular with existing competitors. French teams Yamaha Viltais Experience, 3ART Moto Team 95 and Moto Ain were quick to commit to the program, as were Team Wepol Racing from Germany and the Maco Racing Team from Slovakia.
Discussions are currently ongoing with a number of other teams that have expressed an interest in this groundbreaking program, with further announcements expected in the near future.
The extended support program has been introduced in response to the GMT94 Yamaha Official EWC Team switching their focus from EWC to the FIM Supersport World Championship for the 2019 season.
Eric de Seynes
President, Yamaha Motor Europe N.V.
“For the next EWC season, opening with Bol d’Or, the YART Yamaha Official EWC Team will challenge for both race wins and the World Endurance title they already won some years ago. They have fantastic experience, high technical capacities and surely one of the best team of riders.
Also, due to the fact that GMT94 has decided to leave EWC and move to the World Supersport program, Yamaha Motor Europe wants to extend its commitment to this unique series where the Yamaha YZF-R1 is the best, or at the least one of the best, bikes to race with. We have decided to develop a new program of ‘Yamaha Supported teams’ to increase our support to a selection of experienced private teams that will race with the YZF-R1.
Participating teams, of which five so far from France, Germany and Slovakia with more to come, will receive increased support from Yamaha, partly commensurate to their results throughout the season. The aim is clear: to allow these Yamaha teams to be more competitive, fighting on a more equal footing with the factory teams, and to support racing results and the reputation of our fantastic YZF-R1 tuned with GYTR parts.
On a personal note, I would like to thank Christophe Guyot and the GMT94 Team for their outstanding contribution to Yamaha’s success in the FIM Endurance World Championship, including two world titles and always finishing in the top two during the past six seasons. I hope they will enjoy the same level of success for their next seasons in the FIM World Supersport Championship.”