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Yamaha press releases on our motor sports racing activities

Main Yamaha Race Teams for 2009 Feb. 16, 2009

In 2008, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. was the proud winner of the MotoGP triple crown of rider, manufacturer and team championship titles as well as winning MX1 class of the World Motocross Championships and the AMA Supercross title. In Japan, Yamaha won the championship titles in the premier classes of road racing, motocross and trial competition. Here again, Yamaha succeeded in winning triple crowns to cap off a great season of international and domestic race activities.
In 2009, Yamaha Motor will continue race activities in the MotoGP and other international and domestic racing events as arenas for 鉄haring Kando* with People Around the World.・Here we introduce the 2009 race program for international road racing and motocross.


*Kando is a Japanese word for the simultaneous feeling of deep satisfaction and intense excitement that people experience when they encounter something of exceptional value.



International Racing


In road racing痴 premier MotoGP class, where Yamaha won the triple crown of rider, manufacturer and team championship titles in 2008, there will again be four riders competing for the title from two Yamaha teams. The machine they will use is the YZR-M1. Racing for Yamaha痴 factory team, the FIAT YAMAHA TEAM, will be Valentino Rossi, who won his third rider title with Yamaha in 2008 and his first in three years, and his teammate Jorge Lorenzo, who won one GP in six podium finishes to rank 4th and be named MotoGP Rookie of the Year in 2008.
Yamaha will also be supporting the Tech3 Yamaha Team, whose riders will be last year痴 7th ranked Colin Edwards and James Toseland, who ranked 11th in his rookie MotoGP year in 2008.

In the World Superbike Championship (WSB), the pinnacle class of production machine racing, Yamaha will be competing with a new machine and new team. Riding for the new Yamaha World Superbike Team will be Ben Spies, winner of three consecutive Superbike class championship titles in the AMA Road Race Championships from 2006 to 2008. His teammate in the competition for the title will be Tom Sykes, who competed until last year in the British Superbike Championship.
Riding again this year for the Yamaha GMT94 team will be David Checa. The machine used by both of these teams will be the new 2009 model YZF-R1 with an all-new engine adopting the same type of 田rossplane crankshaft・as the YZR-M1 MotoGP racer.

In the Supersport World Championship (WSS), the Yamaha World Supersport Team will field last year痴 6th ranked Fabien Foret and Cal Crutchlow, who ranked 3rd in 2008 in the British Superbike Championship. Also Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni team will enter Michele Pirro, who moves up from the Superstock class. Their machine is the YZF-R6.

In the World Motocross Championships, Yamaha teams will be competing again in the MX1 and MX2 classes. In the pinnacle MX1 class where Yamaha won the 2008 title, four riders will compete from two teams. The factory Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team will enter David Philippaerts, who won last season痴 title in his first year with Yamaha, and 5th ranked Josh Coppins. Their machine is the YZ450FM.
Also competing in MX1 from the Yamaha Red Bull De Carli Team will be the 2-time former MX2 champion Antonio Cairoli and last year痴 MX1 7th ranker, Tanel Leok. They will race on the YZ450F.
Competing in the MX2 class from the Yamaha Ricci Racing Team will be Nicolas Aubin, who ranked 3rd in this class last year, along with teammates Davide Guarneri and Loic Larrieu, all competing on the YZ250F.

In the AMA Supercross series that began on January 3, the Yamaha Supercross/Motocross Team enters Broc Hepler, Josh Hill and Grant Langston. Also competing in the pinnacle Supercross category from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians/L&M Team are last sason痴 AMA Motocross champion James Stewart and Kyle Chisholm, both riding the YZ450F.



Main Yamaha Race Teams for 2009

Road Racing
Category Rider Team Machine
World
Championships
MotoGP Valentino Rossi
Jorge Lorenzo
FIAT YAMAHA TEAM YZR-M1
Colin Edwards
James Toseland
Tech3 Yamaha Team
Superbike Ben Spies
Tom Sykes
Yamaha World Superbike Team YZF-R1
David Checa Yamaha GMT94
Supersport Fabien Foret
Cal Crutchlow
Yamaha World Supersport Team YZF-R6
Michele Pirro Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni

Motocross
Category Rider Team Machine
World
Championships
MX1 David Philippaerts
Josh Coppins
Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team YZ450FM
Antonio Cairoli
Tanel Leok
Yamaha Red Bull De Carli Team YZ450F
MX2 Nicolas Aubin
Davide Guarneri
Loic Larrieu
Yamaha Ricci Racing Team YZ250F
AMA
Championships
SX
MX
Broc Hepler
Josh Hill
Grant Langston
Yamaha Supercross/Motocross Team YZ450F
Jemes Stewart
Kyle Chisholm
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians / L&M Team


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
2007: 3rd in MotoGP World Championship
2008: Champion of MotoGP World Championship


Jorge Lorenzo image
Name: Jorge Lorenzo
Nationality: Spanish
Born: May 4, 1987
Racing team: FIAT YAMAHA TEAM
Racing career
2002: 21st in MotoGP World Championship 125cc class
2003: 12th in MotoGP World Championship 125cc class
2004: 4th in MotoGP World Championship 125cc class
2005: 5th in MotoGP World Championship 250cc class
2006: Champion of MotoGP World Championship 250cc class
2007: Champion of MotoGP World Championship 250cc class
2008: 4th in MotoGP World Championship


Colin Edwards image
Name: Colin Edwards
Nationality: American
Born: Feb. 27, 1974
Racing team: Tech3 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
Won Suzuka 8-hour Endurance Race

2002: Champion of World Superbike Championship
2003: 13th in MotoGP World Championship
2004: 5th in MotoGP World Championship
2005: 4th in MotoGP World Championship
2006: 7th in MotoGP World Championship
2007: 9th in MotoGP World Championship
2008: 7th in MotoGP World Championship


James Toseland image
Name: James Toseland
Nationality: British
Born: Oct. 5, 1980
Racing team: Tech3 Yamaha Team
Racing career
1998: 18th in World Supersport Championship
1999: 11th in World Supersport Championship
2000: 12th in British Superbike Championships
2001: 13th in World Superbike Championship
2002: 7th in World Superbike Championship
2003: 3rd in World Superbike Championship
2004: Champion of World Superbike Championship
2005: 4th in World Superbike Championship
2006: 2nd in World Superbike Championship
2007: Champion of World Superbike Championship
2008: 11th in MotoGP World Championship


Ben Spies image
Name: Ben Spies
Nationality: American
Born: July 11, 1984
Racing team: Yamaha World Superbike Team
Racing career
2000: 9th in AMA 750 Superstock Championship
2001: 3rd in AMA 750 Superstock Championship
2002: 9th in AMA Supersport Championship
2003: 

9th in AMA Supersport Championship
Champion of AMA Formula Xtreme

2004: 4th in AMA Supersport Championship
2005: 2nd in AMA Superbike Championship
2006: Champion of AMA Superbike Championship
2007: Champion of AMA Superbike Championship
2008: Champion of AMA Superbike Championship


Tom Sykes image
Name: Tom Sykes
Nationality: British
Born: Aug. 11, 1984
Racing team: Yamaha World Superbike Team
Racing career
2003: 8th in British Supersport Championships
2004: 6th in British Supersport Championships
2005: 5th in British Supersport Championships
2006: 2nd in British Supersport Championships
2007: 6th in British Superbike Championships
2008: 4th in British Superbike Championships


David Checa image
Name: David Checa
Nationality: Spanish
Born: Apr. 20, 1980
Racing team: Yamaha GMT94
Racing career
2000: 19th in FIM Grand Prix World Championship 250cc class
2001: 17th in FIM Grand Prix Championship 250cc class
2002: 13th in MotoGP World Championship 250cc class
2003: 3rd (team ranking) in World Endurance Championship
2004: Team Champion of World Endurance Championship
2005: 

21st in World Superbike Championship
Won Le Mans 24-hour Endurance Race

2006: 11th in World Supersport Championship
2007: 12th in World Supersport Championship
2008: 28th in World Supersport Championship


Fabien Foret image
Name: Fabien Foret
Nationality: French
Born: Jan. 29, 1973
Racing team: Yamaha World Supersport Team
Racing career
2000: 19th in World Supersport Championship
2001: 8th in World Supersport Championship
2002: Champion of World Supersport Championship
2003: 9th in World Supersport Championship
2004: 7th in World Supersport Championship
2005: 4th in World Supersport Championship
2006: 

20th in World Superbike Championship
25th in World Supersport Championship

2007: 3rd in World Supersport Championship
2008: 6th in World Supersport Championship


Cal Crutchlow image
Name: Cal Crutchlow
Nationality: British
Born: Oct. 29, 1985
Racing team: Yamaha World Supersport Team
Racing career
2004: 10th in British Supersport Championship
2005: 3rd in British Supersport Championship
2006: Champion of British Supersport Championship
2007: 10th in British Superbike Championship
2008: 3rd in British Supersport Championship


Michele Pirro image
Name: Michele Pirro
Nationality: Italian
Born: July 5, 1986
Racing team: Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni
Racing career
2007: 7th in World Superstock Championship
2008: 5h in World Superstock Championship


Motocross

David Philippaerts image
Name: David Philippaerts
Nationality: Italian
Born: Dec. 7, 1983
Racing team: Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team
Racing career
2002: 3rd in European Championship 125cc class
2003: Champion of Italian Championship 125cc class
2004: 19th in Motocross MX2 World Championship
2005: 4th in Motocross MX2 World Championship
2006: 3rd in Motocross MX2 World Championship
2007: 6th in Motocross MX1 World Championship
2008: Champion of Motocross MX1 World Championship


Josh Coppins image
Name: Josh Coppins
Nationality: New Zealander
Born: Mar. 11, 1977
Racing team: Yamaha Monster Energy 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
2007: 3rd in Motocross MX1 World Championship
2008: 5th in Motocross MX1 World Championship


Antonio Cairoli image
Name: Antonio Cairoli
Nationality: Italian
Born: Sep. 23, 1985
Racing team:  Yamaha Red Bull De Carli Team
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' championship
2002: Champion of Italian 125 'junior' championship
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
2007: 

Champion of Motocross MX2 World Championship
Champion of European Supercross
Champion of Italian MX2 Championship

2008: 6th in Motocross MX2 World Championship


Tanel Leok image
Name: Tanel Leok
Nationality: Estonian
Born: June 1, 1985
Racing team: Yamaha Red Bull De Carli Team
Racing career
2002: 20th in Motocross World Championship 125cc class
2003: 15th in Motocross World Championship 125cc class
2004: 6th in Motocross MX1 World Championship
2005: 11th in Motocross MX1 World Championship
2006: 5th in Motocross MX1 World Championship
2007: 8th in Motocross MX1 World Championship
2008: 8th in Motocross MX1 World Championship


Nicolas Aubin image
Name: Nicolas Aubin
Nationality: French
Born: Apr. 26, 1988
Racing team: Yamaha Ricci Racing Team
Racing career
2005: 28th in Motocross MX2 World Championship
2006: 23rd in Motocross MX2 World Championship
2007: 6th in Motocross MX2 World Championship
2008: 3rd in Motocross MX2 World Championship


Davide Guarneri image
Name: Davide Guarneri
Nationality: Italian
Born: Mar. 25, 1985
Racing team: Yamaha Ricci Racing Team
Racing career
2002: 12th in Italian MX125 Championship
2003: 

17th in 125 World Championship
3rd in Italian MX125 Championship

2005: 11th in Motocross MX2 World Championship
2006: 16th in Motocross MX2 World Championship
2007: 12th in Motocross MX2 World Championship
2008: 15th in Motocross MX2 World Championship


Loic Larrieu image
Name: Loic Larrieu
Nationality: French
Born: Jan. 17, 1991
Racing team: Yamaha Ricci Racing Team
Racing career
2001: 65cc French Vice Championship
2002: 85cc French Vice Championship
2005: Champion of Mini French Championship
2006: Champion of French Cadet Championship
2007: 57th in Motocross MX2 World Championship
2008: 35th in Motocross MX2 World Championship


Broc Hepler image
Name: Broc Hepler
Nationality: American
Born: Aug. 1, 1986
Racing team:  Yamaha Supercross/Motocross Team
Racing career
2003: 27th in AMA NMX125cc class
2004: 

2nd in AMA SX Eastern Div. 125cc class
2nd in NMX 125cc class

2005: 

9th in AMA SX Western Div. 125cc class
6th in NMX 125cc class

2006: 6th in AMA MX Lites
2007: 12th in AMA MX Lites
2008: 

8th in AMA SX Lites West
17th in AMA MX Lites



Josh Hill image
Name: Josh Hill
Nationality: American
Born: July 30, 1989
Racing team:  Yamaha Supercross/Motocross Team
Racing career
2006: 25th in AMA MX Lites
2007: 3rd in AMA SX Lites West, 15th in MX Lites
2008: 

5th in AMA SX
7th in AMA MX



Grant Langston image
Name: Grant Langston
Nationality: South African
Born: June 16, 1982
Racing team:  Yamaha Supercross/Motocross Team
Racing career
1998: 35th in Motocross World Championships 125cc class
1999: 10th in Motocross World Championships 125cc class
2000: Champion of Motocross World Championships 125cc class
2001: 

4th in AMA SX Western Div. 125cc class
2nd in NMX 125cc class

2002: 

10th in AMA SX Eastern Div. 125cc class
16th in NMX 125cc class

2003: 

26th in AMA SX Eastern Div. 125cc class
Champion of NMX 125cc class

2004: 11th in AMA SX 250cc class
2005: 

Champion of AMA SX Eastern Div. 125cc class
4th in NMX 125cc class

2006: 

Champion of AMA SX Lites West
26th in MX Lites

2007: 18th in AMA SX, Champion in AMA MX
2008: 26th in AMA SX


James Stewart image
Name: James Stewart
Nationality: American
Born: Dec. 21, 1985
Racing team: San Manuel Band of Mission Indians/L&M Team
Racing career
2002: 

2nd in AMA SX Western Div. 125cc class
Champion of NMX 125cc class

2003: 

Champion of AMA SX Western Div. 125cc class
3rd in NMX 125cc class

2004: 

Champion of AMA SX Eastern Div. 125cc class
Champion of NMX125cc class

2005: 

10th in AMA SX 250cc class
12th in NMX 250cc class

2006: 

2nd in AMA SX
4th in AMA MX

2007: 

Champion of AMA SX
7th in AMA MX

2008: 

23rd in AMA SX
Champion of AMA MX



Kyle Chisholm image
Name: Kyle Chisholm
Nationality: American
Born: Dec. 6, 1987
Racing team: San Manuel Band of Mission Indians/L&M Team
Racing career
2004: 50th in AMA NMX 125cc class
2005: 45th in AMA NMX 125cc class
2006: 

20th in AMA SX Lites East
19th in AMA MX Lites

2007: 

27th in AMA SX Lites West
11th in AMA MX Lites

2008: 

12th in AMA SX Lites East
8th in AMA MX Lites


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