Detail

Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. (YMENV) has decided to withdraw their official Yamaha World Superbike Team at the end of the current season from the FIM Superbike World Championship.

This announcement follows a full strategic review of the Marketing Operations within Europe including all motorsport activities and takes into account the continuing severe and rapidly changing Powered Two Wheeler market conditions throughout the region.

This decision will enable even more resource and focus to be used for direct "Customer" activities to ultimately add more value to Yamaha ownership and increased Customer Satisfaction.

YMENV would like to express their sincere thanks and appreciation for the total commitment, support, and passion shown by the extremely professional and dedicated riders and team members both past and present throughout the many years of participation in the FIM Superbike World Championship. In addition they would also like to thank all the highly valued business partners and suppliers who have in-turn supported the team including the Championship promoters. YMENV has chosen this timing of announcement to ensure that all existing obligations are correctly met, and to not limit any opportunities or future planning for all personnel involved.

Riders Marco Melandri and Eugene Laverty are currently 3rd and 4th in the overall 2011 FIM Superbike World Championship standings with 4 rounds to go. YME and the team will continue to give its maximum efforts until the end of the existing season to try and regain the World Superbike title Yamaha also obtained in 2009.

Yamaha will continue the availability of road racing kit parts, known as YEC Racing kit parts, for its R1 and R6 production models for private teams entering at all racing levels.