Yamaha pulls out of 2010 superbike season

Nov 07, 2009

Special to the Star

Yamaha Canada announced Wednesday it was withdrawing, with immediate effect, from the Parts Canada Superbike Championship, breaking a 27-year history in two-wheeled racing.

Spokesman Tim Kennedy made the shock statement at a planning meeting for the 2010 series. The move leaves three top riders without seats next season.

Yamaha's Bryan Hudgin told Wheels it's a budgetary decision.

"Motorcycle sales are down, so `soft' expenses such as racing, which is part of our marketing, have to move down as well. We've spoken to all our racing partners and riders, and while, of course, they're not happy, they all understand and accept our position."

That leaves Canadian Kawasaki and Suzuki Canada as the only official factory entrants in the Superbike class, although BMW Motorrad Canada has plans to join in 2010 with the new S1000RR model.

After Wednesday's meeting, BMW Canada's manager of Motorrad marketing Chris Duff informed Wheels it has confirmed its participation in the 2010 season and will keep its rider lineup of Francis Martin and Mike Ferreira.

"Right now we're in good shape, since our budgets were locked in some time ago and we expect to get the bikes before the end of the year," he said.

Colin Fraser, who heads the series for Professional Motorsports Productions, noted Yamaha's long history in racing around the world and in Canada.

"We certainly respect and understand the reasons for their decision, and hope that they'll return when the economic situation improves."

Yamaha's racing success in Canada includes six National Superbike titles dating to 1982, and seven Sportbike/600 crowns, the most recent being in 2004 when Pascal Picotte (who runs the Suzuki racing effort) took the Sportbike title.

With the Yamaha team disappearing, it will be a tough job search for riders Kevin Lacombe (Superbike and Sportbike/600), Royce McLean, and Tony Kaspar (both in the Sportbike class).

Lacombe is a perennial front-runner although he's never taken a National title.

McLean is a 15-year-old prodigy who would certainly have won the '09 Rookie of the Year award except for breaking a leg in August at the penultimate round at Shubenacadie, N.S.

Toronto Star