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Yamaha press releases on our motor sports racing activities


Main Yamaha Race Teams for 2007 Feb. 9, 2007

The 2007 program of Yamaha factory and support teams for international race activities has been finalized. Again this year, Yamaha will be involved in a variety of race activities internationally, ranging from road racing, and motocross to snowmobile racing and more.


International Racing


Competing in road racing's premier MotoGP class with its new 800cc regulation this season will be four riders from two teams. Racing for the FIAT YAMAHA TEAM will be Valentino Rossi, who finished 2006 ranked 2nd for the season, and his teammate Colin Edwards. As a team they will be trying to win back the championship in this first season of the new 800cc MotoGP era.
Yamaha will also be supporting the Dunlop Tech3 Yamaha Team, whose riders include Makoto Tamada, who has two first places in the MotoGP class to his credit, and Sylvain Guintoli, who will be competing in the MotoGP class for the first time after competing in World GP250 and serving as test rider for Dunlop Tech3 Yamaha Team last season. The machine both teams will use is the YZR-M1.

In the World Superbike Championship, the pinnacle class of production machine racing, three riders from two Yamaha teams will be competing. The Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team supported by Yamaha's group company YMIT will enter last year's 3rd ranked Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser, who has won the WSB title twice in the past and has scored a total of 33 WSB career wins. Also competing as a new Yamaha team this year is "Team YZF Yamaha" with Shinichi Nakatomi as its rider. This will be Nakatomi's second season in WSB. Both of these teams will use the YZF-R1.
In the Supersport World Championship, the Yamaha World Supersport Team will enter Kevin Curtain, who ranked 2nd in the 2006 season ranking, and Broc Parkes. They will race the YZF-R6. In addition, the "Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni" will enter Massimo Roccoli, also on the YZF-R6.
In the USA, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. will enter four riders in AMA road racing. In the Superbike class, Eric Bostrom and Jason DiSalvo will ride for the Yamaha Road Racing Team on the new YZF-R1. As a Yamaha-supported team, Graves Motorsports Yamaha Team will enter Josh Herrin in the Supersport class riding the YZF-R6 and Ben Bostrom in the Superstock class riding the YZF-R1.

In the World Motocross Championships, Yamaha teams will compete in the pinnacle MX1 and MX2 classes. Riding for the Yamaha Motocross Team in MX1 will be Joshua Coppins, who in the 2005 season had an exciting battle for the title with Stefan Everts. His teammate will be Marc De Reuver, who until last season was racing in the MX2 class. Both will be racing on the YZ450FM.
In the MX2 class, the Yamaha De Carli team supported by Yamaha Motor Italia will enter 2005 world champion Antonio Cairoli, who ranked 2nd in the 2006 season ranking. He will ride the YZ250F.

In the AMA Supercross series that has begun on January 6 in the USA, the Yamaha Factory Supercross/Motocross Team enters three young riders. In Supercross, Grant Langston will race on the YZ450F. Riding in the Lites class will be Broc Hepler and Josh Hill, both of whom will be racing on the YZ250F. And, the L&M Racing Supercross Team supported by Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. will enter Chad Reed, who ranked 3rd in the 2006 season ranking, and Nathan Ramsey. Both riders will be racing on the YZ450F. The Yamaha Supercross/Motocross Team will also be competing in the AMA National Motocross Championship (NMX) series that begins in May. And, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. will also support the Yamaha of Troy team, entering Jason Lawrence, Kyle Cunningham, Ryan Moris and Matt Goerke, the Motoworld Racing team, entering Michael LaPalaglia, Justin Bryton, Brandon Jesseman and Sean Hackley and the Star Racing team entering Dusty Klatt, Matt Lemoine, Broc Tickle and Sean Collier.

In the Enduro 1 class of the World Enduro Championships, the UFO Corse Yamaha team will enter Maurizio Micheluz and Simone Albergoni riding the WR250F. In the Enduro 2 class, the same team will enter Johnny Aubert riding the WR450F.

In snowmobile racing, Yamaha has formed a partnership with Canadian-based Boss Racing to establish the new "Yamaha Boss Snocross Racing Team." This year marks Yamaha's first factory participation in the World Power Sports Snowmobile Tour (WPSA) championship series since 2002. The riders are last year's WPSA pro open class and pro stock class champion, Robbie Malinoski and last year's All-Japan Snowmobile Championship title winner Yuji Nakazawa. The team will be trying to win the series title while also working on the development of the Yamaha 4-stroke RSNytro machine.



Main Yamaha Teams for 2007

Road Racing
Category Rider Team Machine
World
Championships
MotoGP Valentino Rossi
Colin Edwards
FIAT YAMAHA TEAM YZR-M1
Makoto Tamada
Sylvain Guintoli
Dunlop Tech3 Yamaha Team
Superbike Noriyuki Haga
Troy Corser
Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team YZF-R1
Shinichi Nakatomi Team YZF Yamaha
Supersport Kevin Curtain
Broc Parkes
Yamaha World Supersport Team YZF-R6
Massimo Roccoli Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni
AMA
Championships
Superbike Eric Bostrom
Jason DiSalvo
Yamaha Road Racing Team YZF-R1
Supersport Josh Herrin

Graves Motorsports Yamaha Team

YZF-R6
Superstock Ben Bostrom YZF-R1

Motocross
Category Rider Team Machine
World
Championships
MX1 Joshua Coppins
Marc De Reuver
Yamaha Motocross Team YZ450FM
MX2 Antonio Cairoli Team Yamaha De Carli YZ250F
AMA
Championships
SX
MX
Grant Langston Yamaha Factory Supercross/ Motocross Team YZ450F
SX Chad Reed
Nathan Ramsey
L&M Racing Supercross Team
SX Lites
MX Lites
Broc Hepler
Josh Hill
Yamaha Factory Supercross/ Motocross Team YZ250F
Jason Lawrence
Kyle Cunningham
Ryan Moris
Matt Goerke
Yamaha of Troy YZ250F
Michael LaPalaglia
Justin Bryton
Brandon Jesseman
Sean Hackley
Motoworld Racing
Dusty Klatt
Matt Lemoine
Broc Tickle
Sean Collier
Star Racing

Enduro
Category Rider Team Machine
World
Championships
Enduro 1 Maurizio Micheluz
Simone Albergoni
UFO Corse Yamaha WR250F
Enduro 2 Johnny Aubert WR450F

Snowmobile
Category Rider Team Machine
WPSA Pro Open Robbie Malinoski
Yuji Nakazawa
YAMAHA BOSS SNOCROSS RACING TEAM RSNytro


Road Racing

Valentino Rossi image
Name: Valentino Rossi
Nationality: Italian
Born: Feb. 16, 1979
Racing team: FIAT YAMAHA TEAM
Racing career
1996: 9th in FIM Grand Prix World Championships 125cc class
1997: Champion of FIM Grand Prix World Championships 125cc class
1998: 2nd in FIM Grand Prix World Championships 250cc class
1999: Champion of FIM Grand Prix World Championships 250cc class
2000: 2nd in FIM Grand Prix World Championships 500cc class
2001: Champion of FIM Grand Prix World Championships 500cc class
2002: Champion of MotoGP World Championship
2003: Champion of MotoGP World Championship
2004: Champion of MotoGP World Championship
2005: Champion of MotoGP World Championship
2006: 2nd in MotoGP World Championship


Colin Edwards image
Name: Colin Edwards
Nationality: USA
Born: Feb. 27, 1974
Racing team: FIAT YAMAHA TEAM
Racing career
1993: 6th in AMA Superbike Championship
1994: 6th in AMA Superbike Championship
1995: 11th in World Superbike Championships
1996:  5th in World Superbike Championships
Won Suzuka 8-hour Endurance Race
1997: 12th in World Superbike Championship
1998: 5th in World Superbike Championship
1999: 2nd in World Superbike Championship
2000: Champion of World Superbike Championship
2001: 2nd in World Superbike Championship
2002:  Champion of World Superbike Championship
Won Suzuka 8-hour Endurance Race
2003: 13th in MotoGP World Championship
2004: 5th in MotoGP World Championship
2005: 4th in MotoGP World Championship
2006: 7th in MotoGP World Championship


Makoto Tamada image
Name: Makoto Tamada
Hometown: Ehime Pref.
Born: Nov. 4, 1976
Racing team: Dunlop Tech3 Yamaha Team
Racing career
1995: 11th in All Japan Championships GP250 class
1996: 14th in All Japan Championships GP250 class
1997: 6th in All Japan Championships GP250 class
1998: 4th in All Japan Championships GP250 class
1999: 5th in All Japan Superbike Championships
2000: 3rd in All Japan Superbike Championships
2001: 2nd in All Japan Superbike Championships
2002: 4th in All Japan Superbike Championships
2003: 11th in MotoGP World Championship
2004: 6th in MotoGP World Championship
2005: 11th in MotoGP World Championship
2006: 12th in MotoGP World Championship


Sylvain Guintoli image
Name: Sylvain Guintoli
Nationality: French
Born: Jun. 24, 1982
Racing team: Dunlop Tech3 Yamaha Team
Racing career
2000: World Championships GP250 class (spot entry)
2001: 14th in World Championships GP250 class
2002: MotoGP World Championships (spot entry)
2003: 10th in World Championships GP250 class
2004: 14th in World Championships GP250 class
2005: 10th in World Championships GP250 class
2006: 9th in World Championships GP250 class


Noriyuki Haga image
Name: Noriyuki Haga
Hometown: Aichi Pref.
Born: Mar. 2, 1975
Racing team: Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team
Racing career
1993: 13th in All Japan Championships 250cc class
1994: 9th in All Japan Superbike Championships
1995: 10th in All Japan Superbike Championships
1996:  8th in All Japan Superbike Championships
Won Suzuka 8-hour Endurance Race
1997: Champion of All Japan Superbike Championships
1998: 6th in World Superbike Championship
1999: 7th in World Superbike Championship
2000: 2nd in World Superbike Championship
2001: 14th in FIM Grand Prix World Championships 500cc class
2002: 4th in World Superbike Championship
2003: 14th in MotoGP World Championship
2004: 3rd in World Superbike Championship
2005: 3rd in World Superbike Championship
2006: 3rd in World Superbike Championship


Troy Corser image
Name: Troy Corser
Nationality: Australian
Born: Nov. 27, 1971
Racing team: Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team
Racing career
1992:  4th in Australian Superbike Championship
33rd in World Superbike Championship
1993: Champion of Australian Superbike Championship
1994:  Champion of AMA Superbike Championship
11th in World Superbike Championship
1995: 2nd in World Superbike Championship
1996: Champion of World Superbike Championship
1997: 23rd in FIM Grand Prix World Championships 500cc class
1998: 3rd in World Superbike Championship
1999: 3rd in World Superbike Championship
2000: 3rd in World Superbike Championship
2001: 4th in World Superbike Championship
2003: 12th in World Superbike Championship
2004: 9th in World Superbike Championship
2005: Champion in World Superbike Championship
2006: 4th in World Superbike Championship


Shinichi Nakatomi image
Name: Shinichi Nakatomi
Hometown: Fukuoka Pref.
Born: Oct. 30, 1978
Racing team: Team YZF Yamaha
Racing career
1996: Champion in the Kyushu Championships GP250cc class
1997: 15th in All Japan Championships International A 250cc class
1998:  11th in All Japan Championships International A 250cc class
Champion in Western Japan Championships 250cc class
1999: 4th in All Japan Championships International A 250cc class
2000: Champion in All Japan Championships International A 250cc class
2001: 11th in All Japan Championships International A 250cc class
2002: 8th in All Japan Championships International A 250cc class
2003: 6th in All Japan Championships JSB1000 class
2004: 3rd in All Japan Championships JSB1000 class
2005: 4th in All Japan Championships JSB1000 class
2006: 17th in World Superbike Championship


Kevin Curtain image
Name: Kevin Curtain
Nationality: Australian
Born: May 22, 1966
Racing team: Yamaha World Supersport Team
Racing career
1995: Champion of Australian 250cc Production Championships
1996: Champion of Australian Supersport Championship
1997: 4th in Australian Supersport Championship
1998:  Champion of Australian Pro-Superbike Championship
Champion of Australian Formula Xtreme Championship
1999: Champion of Australian Formula Xtreme Championship
2000:  Champion of Australian Supersport Championship
Champion of Australian Formula Xtreme Championship
2001: 5th in World Supersport Championship
2002: 11th in World Supersport Championship
2003:  Champion of Australian Supersport Championship
Champion of Australian Formula Xtreme
2004: 6th in World Supersport Championship
2005: 2nd in World Supersport Championship
2006: 2nd in World Supersport Championship


Broc Parkes image
Name: Broc Parkes
Nationality: Australian
Born: Dec. 24, 1981
Racing team: Yamaha World Supersport Team
Racing career
1999:  Champion of Australian 125 Championships
Champion of Australian 250 Production Championships
2000: 3rd in All-Japan X-Formula Championship
2001: 16th in World Superbikes Championship
2002: 11th in World Superbike Championship
2003: 13th in World Supersport Championship
2004: 2nd in World Supersport Championship
2005: 6th in World Supersport Championship
2006: 4th in World Supersport Championship


Massimo Roccoli image
Name: Massimo Roccoli
Nationality: Italian
Born: Nov. 27, 1984
Racing team: Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni
Racing career
2004: 4th in Italian Supersport Championship
2005:  5th in European Superstock Championship
2nd in Italian Superstock Championship
2006: 6th in World Supersport Championship


Eric Bostrom image
Name: Eric Bostrom
Nationality: USA
Born: Nov. 19, 1976
Racing team: Yamaha Road Racing Team
Racing career
1994: 12th in AMA SuperTwins Championship
1995: 4th in AMA SuperTwins Championship
1996: 6th in AMA SuperTwins Championship
1997:  11th in AMA Supersport Championship
Champion of AMA SuperTwins Championship
1998:  18th in AMA Superbike Championship
3rd in AMA Supersport Championship
1999:  7th in AMA Superbike Championship
9th in AMA Supersport Championship
2000:  4th in AMA Superbike Championship
2nd in AMA Supersport Championship
2001:  2nd in AMA Superbike Championship
Champion of AMA Supersport Championship
2002: 2nd in AMA Superbike Championship
2003: 7th in AMA Superbike Championship
2004: 7th in AMA Superbike Championship
2005: 3rd in AMA Superbike Championship
2006:  6th in AMA Superstock Championship
2nd in AMA Formula Xtreme Championship


Jason DiSalvo image
Name: Jason DiSalvo
Nationality: USA
Born: Feb. 9, 1984
Racing team: Yamaha Road Racing Team
Racing career
2002:  13th in AMA Superbike Championship
5th in AMA Superstock Championship
2003:  10th in AMA Supersport Championship
7th in AMA Superstock Championship
2004:  5th in AMA Supersport Championship
4th in AMA Superstock Championship
2005:  3rd in AMA Supersport Championship
2nd in AMA Superstock Championship
2006:  3rd in AMA Superstock Championship
3rd in AMA Formula Xtreme Championship


Josh Herrin image
Name: Josh Herrin
Nationality: USA
Born: May 23, 1990
Racing team: Graves Motorsports Yamaha Team
Racing career
2003: 6th (1st race) and 12th (2nd race) in Metrakit MiniGP World Festival
2004:  Champion of USGPRU Championships 125cc class
Champion of USGPRU Championships 125cc class West Coast
2005: Champion of WERA 600 Superbike Championship
2006: 11th in AMA Supersport Championship


Ben Bostrom image
Name: Ben Bostrom
Nationality: USA
Born: May 7, 1974
Racing team: Graves Motorsports Yamaha Team
Racing career
1994: 20th in AMA SuperTwins Championship
1995:  7th in AMA SuperTwins Championship
20th in AMA Supersport Championship
1996:  2nd in AMA SuperTwins Championship
4th in AMA Supersport Championship
1997: 12th in AMA Supersport Championship
1998:  22nd in World Superbike Championship (spot entry)
Champion of AMA Superbike Championship
5th in AMA Supersport Championship
1999:  16th in World Superbike Championship (spot entry)
2nd in AMA Superbike Championship
2000: 7th in World Superbike Championship
2001: 3rd in World Superbike Championship
2002: 5th in World Superbike Championship
2003:  4th in AMA Superbike Championship
23rd in AMA Supersport Championship
2004: 4th in AMA Superbike Championship
2005: 15th in World Superbike Championship
2006: 9th in AMA Superbike Championship


Motocross

Joshua Coppins image
Name: Joshua Coppins
Nationality: New Zealander
Born: Mar. 11, 1977
Racing team:  Yamaha Motocross Team
Racing career
1996: 23rd in Motocross World Championship 250cc class
1997: 17th in Motocross World Championship 250cc class
1998: 13th in Motocross World Championship 250cc class
1999: 7th in Motocross World Championship 250cc class
2000: 4th in Motocross World Championship 250cc class
2001: 6th in Motocross World Championship 250cc class
2002: 2nd in Motocross World Championship 250cc class
2003: 12th in MXGP Motocross World Championship
2004: 3rd in Motocross MX1 World Championship
2005: 2nd in Motocross MX1 World Championship
2006: 7th in Motocross MX1 World Championship


Marc De Reuver image
Name: Marc De Reuver
Nationality: Dutch
Born: Feb. 21, 1983
Racing team:  Yamaha Factory Team
Racing career
2000: 39th in Motocross 125cc World Championship
2001: 8th in Motocross 125cc World Championship
2002: 9th in Motocross 125cc World Championship
2003: 7th in Motocross 125cc World Championship
2004: 14th in Motocross MX2 World Championship
2005: 20th in Motocross MX2 World Championship
2006: 5th in Motocross MX2 World Championship


Antonio Cairoli image
Name: Antonio Cairoli
Nationality: Italian
Born: Sep. 23, 1985
Racing team:  Team Yamaha De Carli
Racing career
1998: Champion of Italian mini senior
1999: 3rd in Italian 125 'cadet' championship
2000:  5th in European 85 cc championship
3rd in Italian 125 'cadet' championship
2001: Champion of Italian 125 'cadet' champion, regional 125
2002: Champion of Italian 125 'junior'
2003: 15th in Italian 125 championship
2004: 3rd in Motocross MX2 World Championship
2005: Champion of Motocross MX2 World Championship
2006: 2nd in Motocross MX2 World Championship


Grant Langston image
Name: Grant Langston
Nationality: South African
Born: Jun. 16, 1982
Racing team:  Yamaha Supercross/Motocross Team
Racing career
1998: 35th in FIM World Motocross Championships 125cc class
1999: 10th in FIM World Motocross Championships 125cc class
2000: Champion of FIM World Motocross Championships 125cc class
2001:  4th in AMA SX Western Div. 125cc class
2nd in NMX125cc class
2002:  9th in AMA SX Eastern Div. 125cc class
2nd in NMX125cc class
2003:  26th in AMA SX Eastern Div. 125cc class
Champion of NMX125cc class
2004: 11th in AMA SX250cc class
2005:  Champion of AMA SX Eastern Div. 125cc class
4th in NMX125cc class
2006:  Champion of AMA SX Lites West
26th in MX Lites


Broc Hepler image
Name: Broc Hepler
Nationality: USA
Born: Aug. 1, 1986
Racing team:  Yamaha Factory Supercross/Motocross Team
Racing career
2003: 27th in AMA NMX125cc class
2004:  2nd in AMA SX Eastern Div. 125cc class
2nd in NMX125cc class
2005:  9th in AMA SX Western Div. 125cc class
6th in NMX125cc class
2006: 6th in AMA MX Lites


Josh Hill image
Name: Josh Hill
Nationality: USA
Born: Jul. 30, 1989
Racing team:  Yamaha Factory Supercross/Motocross Team
Racing career
2006: 25th in AMA MX Lites


Chad Reed image
Name: Chad Reed
Nationality: Australian
Born: Mar. 15, 1982
Racing team:  L&M Racing Supercross Team
Racing career
2001: 2nd in FIM World Motocross Championships 250cc class
2002: Champion of AMA SX Eastern Div. 125cc class, 3rd in NMX125cc class
2003: 2nd in AMA SX250cc class, 3rd in NMX 250cc class
2004: Champion of AMA SX250cc class, 2nd in NMX 250cc class
2005: 2nd in AMA SX250cc class, 8th in NMX 250cc class
2006:  3rd in AMA SX
6th in AMA MX


Nathan Ramsey image
Name: Nathan Ramsey
Nationality: USA
Born: Aug. 25, 1974
Racing team:  L&M Racing Supercross Team
Racing career
1993: 33rd in AMA NMX125cc class
1994:  19th in AMA SX Eastern Div. 125cc class
30th in NMX125cc class
1995:  10th in AMA SX Eastern Div. 125cc class
21st in NMX125cc class
1996:  3rd in AMA SX Eastern Div. 125cc class
22nd in NMX125cc class
1997:  10th in AMA SX Weatern Div. 125cc class
22nd in NMX125cc class
1998:  4th in AMA SX Western Div. 125cc class
10th in NMX125cc class
1999:  Champion of AMA SX Western Div. 125cc class
5th in NMX125cc class
2000:  12th in AMA SX Eastern Div. 125cc class
9th in NMX125cc class
2001:  2nd in AMA SX Eastern Div. 125cc class
7th in NMX125cc class
2002:  6th in AMA SX250cc class
10th in NMX250cc class
2003: 15th in AMA NMX250cc class
2004:  2nd in AMA SX Western Div. 125cc class
5th in NMX125cc class
2005:  2nd in AMA SX Western Div. 125cc class
21st in NMX125cc class
2006:  6th in AMA SX Lites West
9th in MX Lites


Enduro

Maurizio Micheluz image
Name: Maurizio Micheluz
Nationality: Italian
Born: Feb. 16, 1983
Racing team:  UFO Corse Yamaha
Racing career
2003:  Champion of 125 European Junior Championship
Champion of Junior four-stroke Italian Championship
2004: 7th in 450cc four-stroke Italian Enduro Championship
2005: 7th in Enduro 1 World Championship
2006: 5th in Enduro 1 World Championship


Simone Albergoni image
Name: Simone Albergoni
Nationality: Italian
Born: Sep. 15, 1981
Racing team:  UFO Corse Yamaha
Racing career
2000: Champion of Junior Italian Enduro Championship
2001: 2nd 125cc two-stroke Italian Enduro Championship
2002: 2nd 125cc two-stroke Italian Enduro Championship
2003: 2nd 125cc two-stroke Italian Enduro Championship
2004: Champion of 250cc four-stroke Italian Enduro Championships
2005:  4th in Enduro 1 World Championship
Champion in 250cc four-stroke Italian Enduro Championship
2006:  2nd in Enduro 1 World Championship
Champion of 250cc four-stroke Italian Enduro Championship


Johnny Aubert image
Name: Johnny Aubert
Nationality: French
Born: Mar. 31, 1980
Racing team:  UFO Corse Yamaha
Racing career
2001: 2nd in German MX Championship 250cc
2002: 12th in Motocross World Championships 250cc class
2003: 18th in Motocross World Championships MXGP
2004: 20th in AMA NMX250cc class
2006: 4th in Enduro 2 World Championship


Snowmobile

Robbie Malinoski image
Name: Robbie Malinoski
Nationality: Canadian
Born: 1981
Racing team:  YAMAHA BOSS SNOCROSS RACING TEAM
Racing career
2004: Champion of USA WPSA World Snocross Semi-pro Open Class
2005: USA WPSA World Snocross most wins
2006: Champion of USA WPSA World Snocross Pro Open Class and Pro Stock Class


Yuji Nakazawa image
Name: Yuji Nakazawa
Hometown: Nagano Pref.
Born: Apr. 14, 1980
Racing team:  YAMAHA BOSS SNOCROSS RACING TEAM
Racing career
2000: Champion of All-Japan Snowmobile Championship Super Class
2001:  4th in USA WINTER X-GAME
12th in USA WSA World Snocross Pro Open Class
*Named "International Rider of the Year"
2002:  16th in USA WSA World Snocross Pro Open Class
2nd in Indoor Super Snocross
2003:  12th in USA WSA World Snocross Pro Stock Class
14th in Pro Open Class
2004: Champion of All-Japan Snowmobile Championship Super Class
2005: Champion of All-Japan Snowmobile Championship Super Class
2006: Champion of All-Japan Snowmobile Championship Super Class

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