World Superbike factory team Yamaha Sterilgarda has finalized their 2011 line-up after signing up World Supersport rider Eugene Laverty.
The 24 year old Irishman who was last year’s WSS runner-up, will be joining Marco Melandri in the completely renewed team.
Yamaha Sterilgarda lost Cal Crutchlow to MotoGP’s Yamaha Tech3 team and dropped a disappointing James Toseland, who rumors have going to his former Ten Kate Honda team or in BMW to replace Ruben Xaus.
Laverty is just 12 points from standings leader Kenan Sofuoglu in the WSS championship, with two rounds to go.
It’s great to have a contract signed at this stage while still fighting for the title in the Supersport class.
I desperately want to win this year before moving on,” said Eugene Laverty.
“When I rode the Yamaha YZF-R6 in World Supersport in 2008 I was having a tough time in 250s, it’s nice that Yamaha brought me to the fore and are now giving me the opportunity within superbike.
Ben Spies winning the championship in 2009 and Cal Crutchlow now stepping up and winning races shows the bike and team are more than capable so the rest is up to me.
I think with the team support and a good testing schedule we can start the 2011 championship ready to be competitive from the first race and be on the podium as early as possible.
Having a teammate like Marco Melandri is great, he has a wealth of experience to learn from so I’m going to enjoy riding with him.
” We’ve been very impressed with Eugene in the World Supersport Championship,” said Yamaha Motor Europe Racing Manager Laurens Klein Koerkamp.
“He is a very talented racer who has shown great dedication to training, is focussed on victory and we know he’s a great person to work with.
We have proved with Cal Crutchlow that we have the facility to bring young riders through from World Supersport, continue to nurture and develop them in World Superbike and provide them with further opportunities in MotoGP if the situation is right.
We look forward to working with Eugene and believe he has the talent to continue through with Yamaha into the future.
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