CYPRESS, Calif. - November 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 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.
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.
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 Motor Corp., U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS) is a leader in the motorsports market. The company's ever-expanding product offerings include motorcycles, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, boats, outdoor power equipment, race kart engines, accessories, apparel and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of more than 4,000 dealers in the United States.
Headquartered in Cypress, Calif., since its incorporation in 1977, YMUS also has facilities in Wisconsin and Georgia, as well as factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. For more information on Yamaha, visit www.yamaha-motor.com.