YAMAHA ANNOUNCES FOURTH MASTER CAMP RIDER LINE-UP

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and the VR46 Riders Academy prepare for another intense Yamaha VR46 Master Camp training week in July. The fourth edition Yamaha VR46 Master Camp rider line-up was officially announced today, during the WorldSBK Pirelli Riviera di Rimini Round at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”.

Misano Adriatico (Italy), 16th June 2017

Yamaha has announced its new rider selection for the fourth Yamaha VR46 Master Camp today in a special press conference, ahead of the WorldSBK Pirelli Riviera di Rimini Round, attended by Yamaha Motor Europe N.V.‘s Marketing Division Manager Paolo Pavesio and VR46 Riders Academy Director Alessio ‘Uccio’ Salucci.

The six selected young talents, who already represent Yamaha Motor Europe as part of its bLU cRU project, had their first glimpse of the VR46 Motor Ranch yesterday as they prepare for next month‘s fun but gruelling week of training in and around Tavullia, Valentino Rossi‘s home base, with the VR46 Riders Academy.

The new Yamaha VR46 Master Camp riders include The Netherlands‘ Robert Schotman (18), France‘s Enzo De La Vega (17), Finland‘s Kimi Patova (15), Ukraine‘s Mykyta Kalinin (18), Italy‘s Alfonso Coppola (19), and Brazil‘s Renzo Ferreira (15).

They are the same riders participating in Yamaha Motor Europe‘s Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Challenge, a competition designed to support young riders racing in the 2017 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship (WorldSSP300) and give them a chance to get a Yamaha supported ride in a higher road-racing class for the 2018 season.

The R3 bLU cRU Challenge takes part inside WorldSSP300, the new entry-level class for the four-tier FIM Superbike World Championship structure, and maintains its own standings over the nine-round competition. The six YZF-R3 riders benefit from the official Yamaha bLU cRU support package over the 2017 season. This weekend they will challenge in the fifth round of WorldSSP300 at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” and in July they will return to the Adriatic coast to take their racing education one step further by attending the fourth Master Camp.

“Being responsible for the main production bike championships, WorldSBK and MXGP, Yamaha Motor Europe is working hard not just to support our riders competing in the top classes, but also to offer to the younger talents the possibility of growth with a path from national competition up to the door of professional motorcycle racing”, stated Pavesio.

“Under this perspective, the newly created WorldSSP300 Championship represents a perfect platform to give future talent the opportunity to make the jump to international racing. For this reason we have created, under the bLU cRU umbrella, a project to support a group of up-and-coming riders in the move to this championship… and eventually further.

“Having the opportunity to also offer them the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp experience is like a dream, not just for our six riders, but for the whole bLU cRU programme in general, and we are looking forward to see the riders‘ performances as soon they return from the VR46 Motor Ranch in July.”

To improve the bLU cRU participants riding skills, they will have a chance to learn from Valentino Rossi, the VR46 Riders Academy and its riders, three-time English Flat Track Champion and two-time American and European Flat Track Champion Marco Belli, fitness trainer Carlo Casabianca, and many more racing experts from July 24th – 28th, 2017.

Similar to the previous edition, the VR46 Riders Academy will be taking the Master Camp students to the gym at Rossi‘s Motor Ranch, the Misano World Circuit ‘Marco Simoncelli’, the Misanino KCE World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” and the Fisio gym.

The training is entirely designed to boost the Master Camp protegees’ riding skills, bike control and choice of race line (on-road aboard YZF-R3s, MiniGP bikes and in go-karts, off-road on YZ250Fs bikes), as well as technical know-how and motivation to give them the edge over the remaining four rounds of the WorldSSP300 season.

“Introducing a new group of Master Camp riders is always exciting, so I‘m very happy I get to attend the official announcement here today!”, enthused Salucci.

“VR46 is very dedicated to the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp programme and the talents whose riding skills we get to help develop. During the fourth edition our racing experts will get to train this new group of young, talented bLU cRU riders. This fourth Master Camp class obviously already has experience with racing on an international level within Europe, so we know they will be fast and will have quite a high level to begin with.

“Nevertheless, the five-day training programme in July will be a nice opportunity for them to pick up a lot of skills at the Motor Ranch and various other locations, that can help them throughout the remainder of the WorldSSP300 season and the rest of their racing careers.

“I‘m sure they can‘t wait to meet Valentino, the VR46 Academy riders and the other instructors, and the VR46 staff is looking forward to it too, because the Master Camp training week is always a lot of fun.”

LIN JARVIS

The third Yamaha VR46 Master Camp project saw some tremendous results, so the Master Camp Team is eager to help the next group of young Yamaha talent, who are motivated to prove themselves to Valentino Rossi and the VR46 Riders Academy. The new Master Camp protégées are mainly from Europe, except for one Brazilian rider. They all have experience with riding on an international level, thanks to their participation in the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Challenge inside the 2017 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship (WorldSSP300). Given their current level, we can look forward to stepping it up a notch during the upcoming a five-day training programme. We saw that the previous students manifested the knowledge and skills they gained at the Master Camp by harvesting great results and even race wins. Their achievements show what can be accomplished by following a strict training regime, designed and carried out by racing professionals. I would like to thank Valentino and the VR46 Riders Academy again for organising this training programme with so much enthusiasm and care. I’m certain the fourth edition will again be a great source of knowledge and support for the new bLU cRU youngsters, helping them advance in their racing careers.

VALENTINO ROSSI

The fourth Master Camp is about to start, and we couldn‘t be happier to welcome the new riders to Tavullia. When I met with the last group I wanted to make sure that they felt they were learning skills and technical practices that they could immediately apply in their respective championships. To see these bLU cRU guys pick up the new information so well, and getting good results because of it, is a great pleasure and a real reward for Yamaha and VR46, who organise and manage the whole Master Camp project. Helping young talent develop their international racing career has been a passion of mine for a long time. To see that grow from the VR46 Riders Academy to international riders attending the Master Camp is something very special. The upcoming Master Camp will again demand some sweat from the riders, but I‘m sure they will also able to really enjoy riding at the Motor Ranch and the other circuits.

ALFONSO COPPOLA

Date of birth: 15-09-1997

Place of birth: Scafati, Italy

Nationality: Italy

Height: 170 cm

Weight (kg): 62 kg

Hobbies: Downhill

Italian Alfonso Coppola has two years‘ experience within the World Superbike paddock, having participated in the European Junior Cup, achieving two podiums along the way and concluding 2016 fourth overall.

The 19-year-old returns with the SK Racing Team, and is currently second in the championship with 66 points after taking the first bLU cRU victory at Donington and two further podiums in the first four races, just two points behind the leader, and heads up the bLU cRU Challenge.

ROBERT SCHOTMAN

Date of birth: 03-12-1998

Place of birth: Dordrecht, The Netherlands

Nationality: Dutch

Height: 171 cm

Weight (kg): 53kg

Hobbies: Racing, Sports, Gaming

At just 18 years of age, Dutchman Robert Schotman has already amassed a 12 year riding career, with three national and two European titles to his name. Harnessing the strong talent and commitment to racing already shown, Schotman is looking forward to progressing his passion on the world stage as part of the Yamaha family.

Becoming an official bLU cRU challenger on the GRT Racing Team YZF-R3 for 2017, Schotman is currently second in the bLU cRU Challenge and 12th overall in the championship with 17 points, with a best placed finish of sixth at Donington.

MYKYTA KALININ

Date of birth: 22-02-1999

Place of birth: Odessa, Ukraine

Nationality: Ukraine

Height: 165 cm

Weight (kg): 43 kg

Hobbies: Jetski, Supermoto

Ukranian Mykyta Kalinin has national titles on both short circuits and water to his name, having competed parallel Supermoto and Jetski championships in recent years.

Beginning his riding career at the age of 10, the 17-year-old now moves to the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship with one year of international experience already under his belt, having competed in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup for 2016 and eager to achieve victory with the MotoX Racing YZF-R3. He currently third in the Challenge with 16 points and 13th overall in the championship standings and has one podium to his name after finishing third in Imola.

KIMI PATOVA

Date of birth: 20-11-2002

Place of birth: Hyvinkää, Finland

Nationality: Finland

Height: 163 cm

Weight (kg): 50 kg

Hobbies: Boxing, jogging, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, enduro and ice racing

Finnish rider Kimi Patova has an eclectic background compared to many of his competitors, having contested ice road racing and enduro alongside the more usual motocross and mini supermoto, before finding his way to the WorldSSP300 Championship.

At the tender age of just 15, he is the youngest member of the bLU cRU to represent Yamaha in the new class and while he has just eight months experience in road racing to date, his natural talent and potential created the obvious choice for the Kallio Race System Team. He is currently fourth in the bLU cRU Challenge with five points and 22nd overall, with a best placed finish of 11th in Assen.

ENZO DE LA VEGA

Date of birth: 27-08-1999

Place of birth: Cagnes-sur-Mer, France

Nationality: France

Height: 175 cm

Weight (kg): 71 kg

Hobbies: Motorcyles, Trial, Supermotard, Running, Bike, Boxing

De La Vega puts his passion for racing down to his earliest memory, receiving his first geared motorcycle as a birthday present at the age of six. Six years later he entered his debut road races and has been hunting for glory ever since.

Claiming victory in his national R3 challenge last year, the 17-year-old Frenchman is promoted to the world championship for 2017, alongside Shotman on the GRT Racing Team YZF-R3 and dedicated to bringing the bLU cRU to the podium, although he us still searching for his first championship point.

RENZO FERREIRA

Date of birth: 30-07-2001

Place of birth: Campinas, Brazil

Nationality: Brazil

Height: 170 cm

Weight (kg): 55 kg

Hobbies: Mountain biking, flat track, motocross

Renzo Ferreira has been riding mini moto from the age of four and progressed to training supermoto 50cc just two years later. The talented young Brazilian joined his national Superbike Junior Cup at 11, before becoming Brazilian Supermoto 230cc Champion just four years later.

2016 saw Ferreira head to the USA to compete on a wider scale before the 17-year-old makes the step to the International series with Kallio Race System on the YZF-R3 for 2017, and has put in some impressive performances so far but is still searching for his first championship point.

NOTES

In an effort to support young Italian riders aiming to become world-class racers, Valentino Rossi decided to put his vast experience and knowledge from his many years of racing to good use in 2014 and established the VR46 Riders Academy.

In March 2016 Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. entered into a formal three-year partnership agreement with the VR46 Riders Academy as an Official Partner, and also as its Official Motorcycle Supplier.

In July of 2016 Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and the VR46 Riders Academy staged the inaugural Yamaha VR46 Master Camp with the goal of helping selected young Yamaha talent make their way in the racing world by increasing their skills and experience.

Since then the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp has put on two following training weeks. The riders for the fourth edition of the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp were selected by Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. The student selection was based on the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Challenge rider line-up.

A place in the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp can’t be bought, nor can riders apply for a placement – riders are put forward by Yamaha distributors only.

Yamaha is currently in the process of creating a step-up model and system to provide tier-based opportunities for young riders to further develop their careers.

More, from a press release issued by Kallio Racing:

Kallio Racing looking forward participating in Yamaha VR46 Master Camp

Kallio Racing Team Junior riders are thrilled to be a part of the MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha VR46 Master Camp in July.

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and the VR46 Riders Academy are preparing for another intense Yamaha VR46 Master Camp training week in July. The fourth edition Yamaha VR46 Master Camp rider line-up was officially announced during the WorldSBK Pirelli Riviera di Rimini Round at the Misano World Circuit in Italy. Kallio Racing Team riders Kimi Patova and Renzo Ferreira are happy to be in the group of six riders who can learn from the best.

“This is a big opportunity for me, I’m so happy about it. I’ll have a chance to learn from Valentino Rossi and it’s a really huge thing for me. Thank you, Yamaha, and Kallio Racing for making this possible for me”, Patova said.

Ferreira has same kind of feelings.

“It’s so cool to get to train with Valentino Rossi, I’ve been dreaming this for my whole life. Thank you so much Yamaha, Kallio Racing and all the sponsors and people who have supported me and are making this happen. I’m looking forward this five day event and will make the most of it”, he said.

Team manager Vesa Kallio knows that the strong collaboration with Yamaha makes these things possible and is happy that the future talent of the team can have an opportunity to make the jump to be even better in the international level.

“I think this is a great opportunity for the riders to see how Rossi rides and thinks about the riding. For sure they will learn a lot and probably they will understand how much work must be done to win races”, Kallio said.

Vesa’s brother, MotoGP-rider Mika Kallio is in Italy as well and thinks that the camp is first and foremost mentally important thing.

“For sure they will learn a lot, but this doesn’t mean that just by going there the level will rise immediately. If the riders know how to get the right things out of the camp, they will surely take one step forward. I think this is also an excellent demonstration that Kallio Racing and Yamaha co-operation makes many good things possible for the young riders”, Mika Kallio said.

Kallio Racing will join the Rimini race with its full power to get the good results on Sundays race. They had small issues during the Fridays sessions, but the whole team is working hard to get the riders on the podium.

Standings World Supersport Class after 6 of 13 rounds

1. Lucas Mahias, France, 105

2. Kenan Sofuoglu, Turkey, 75

3. Sheridan Morais, South Africa, 68

4. Jules Cluzel, France, 55

5. PJ Jacobsen, USA, 55

…12. Niki Tuuli, Finland, 27

Standings World Supersport 300 Class after 4 of 9 rounds

1. Scott Deroue, Netherlands, 68

2. Alfonso Coppola, Italy, 66

3. Marc Garcia, Spain, 51

4. Mika Perez, Spain, 42

5. Borja Sanchez, Spain, 39

…22, Kimi Patova, Finland, 5

… Renzo Ferreira, Brasil, 0