Ben’s New Ride

Press Release | February 13, 2009

The Yamaha World Superbike Team unveiled its new racing livery for 2009, showing off its new sponsors and “war paint” for the upcoming season. The team now fully belongs to Yamaha Motor Europe and has been renamed “The Yamaha World Superbike Team.” The team features two new riders – three-time AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies and promising Brit Tom Sykes – and a brand new YZF-R1.The team’s current sponsors are joined this year by new supporters BM Group, Yamalube, Parts Europe and Novation. They will sit alongside existing sponsors FIMER, Akrapovic, Meccanocar, Fabbri, NGK, Rapid Inside , Volvo, Domino, DID, Magneti Marelli, Beta and BMC.Ben Spies, Yamaha World Superbike Team

“The bike is incredibly confidence inspiring. The way it lays down the power so smoothly, especially through the corners in both the wet and the dry is incredible. It’s got better and better over the last couple of months in testing, I really can’t wait to get it on the start line at Phillip Island for that first race.”Tom Sykes, Yamaha World Superbike Team

“It’s a challenge to get to grips with a new bike, new team and new championship all at the same time, however the fact the bike is amazing and the team so professional has made it a great challenge, I’m really working well with the new R1, the chassis feels really planted and poised, like Ben I can’t wait to get out there and race with it!”The Yamaha World Superbike team structure remains virtually the same for 2009 with the exception of two new replacements. Ben Spies’ American Crew Chief Tom Houseworth has moved from the USA to join him in 2009 and Italian new-comer Sergio Verbena steps up to join Tom Sykes as his new Crew Chief for the upcoming championship battle.With the global credit crunch affecting all areas of racing, The Yamaha World Superbike Team also needed to restructure their budgets by streamlining their operations to be as efficient as possible. Cost savings have been found in the logistics, including number of staff members traveling, as well as in several other areas, without compromising the ability to win on the track. They are determined and motivated to adapt to the situation and go out there and fight for the championship.

By Press Release