Cypress, CA (11/14/2008)
- Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., is proud to announce
the 2009 Yamaha Factory Race Teams. Yamaha,
a leader in the motorsports market, announced
its official race teams today for American Superbike
and Daytona Sportbike road racing, Supercross/Motocross
off-road racing, ATV cross country and motocross
racing and Snocross racing. The announcement
was made at Yamaha’s corporate headquarters
this morning in Cypress, Calif.
“Yamaha is excited to announce our 2009
Factory Race Teams across all of the thrilling
motorsports that we support,” said Keith
McCarty, Yamaha’s racing division manager.
“From top talent to up-and-comers, these
riders have proven that they have what it takes
to compete at the highest levels. Yamaha is
a leader in racing technology and innovation,
and we’re proud to support these riders
and have them represent our brand.”
| Yamaha
Factory ATV Racing: |
Yamaha’s ATV race team is comprised of
record-holding and nine-time Grand National
Cross Country (GNCC) champion Bill Ballance,
who is considered widely as the best ATV racer
of all time.
Joining Ballance on the GNCC circuit again
for Yamaha in 2009 is Traci Cecco, who holds
an unprecedented seven GNCC women’s titles,
and Brandon Sommers, who won the 2007 GNCC XC2
championship and finished fifth in his inaugural
XC1 Pro level series this year.
Representing Team Yamaha on the ATV motocross
tracks again in 2009 are Pat Brown, who won
the Montreal Supercross at the Montreal Olympic
Stadium this September, and Dustin Nelson, the
2008 Yamaha/ITP Quadcross MX Pro Class champion.
Both riders will compete on the all-new motocross-inspired
YFZ450R.
| Yamaha
Factory Road Racing: |
Yamaha’s 2009 Road Race team includes
returning riders Ben Bostrom and Josh Herrin,
who are joined by new members Josh Hayes and
Tommy Aquino.
Fresh off the 2008 AMA Supersport Championship,
Ben Bostrom will compete on the all new cross
plane crankshaft YZF-R1 prepared by Yamaha Factory
Racing in the American Superbike class. Joining
Bostrom on the YZF-R1 is multi-time Formula
Extreme Champion Josh Hayes.
Competing in the AMA Daytona Sportbike Championship
will be third year professional Josh Herrin
aboard the Graves Motorsports prepared YZF-R6,
and Tommy Aquino, the 2008 AMA Road Race Rookie
of the Year.
| Yamaha
Factory Supercross/Motocross: |
The Yamaha Factory Supercross/Motocross team
includes Broc Hepler, Josh Hill and Grant Langston.
Both Hill and Hepler are eager to begin the
new season after strong finishes in 2008, and
Langston plans to mentor the young riders as
a team advisor until a vision problem improves.
Team L&M/San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
made one of the biggest moves of the off season
signing James Stewart to ride under their tent.
In 2008 Stewart had a perfect outdoor season,
a U.S. Open victory and a dominating Bercy Supercross
performance. Fellow Floridian Kyle Chisholm
moves up to the 450 Class as the team’s
second rider.
After a solid freshman effort the Joe Gibbs’
Racing/Spike Energy/Toyota team has signed Josh
Grant and New Zealander Cody Cooper to lead
their 2009 charge.
For the 2009 season, Star Racing will be Yamaha’s
official 250F team. Having worked together since
2005, Star Racing has proven itself a legitimate
competitor and a great ambassador for the Yamaha
brand. The team will consist of Matt Lemoine,
Broc Tickle, Darryn Durham and Michael Hall.
For 2009, professional racers Steve Taylor
and Iain Hayden will pilot their race-modified
FX Nytro sleds in the premier Pro Open class.
Taylor returns for his second season on the
track for Team Yamaha. His highlights last year
include two wins at the WPSA races in Cadillac
and Gaylord, Michigan, as well as putting the
first 4-stroke sled into the main competition
at ESPN’s Winter XGames.
Hayden is new to the Yamaha team this season.
In 2006 he finished a perfect season on the
Canadian National circuit, CSRA, going 16-for-16
and earning both the title and the Racer of
the Year award that year.
About Yamaha:
Yamaha ATVs and SxS vehicles are designed, engineered
and built tough! Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
headquarters are located in Cypress, California.
For more information on Yamaha, visit yamaha-motor.com.
www.yamaha-motor.com
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