CORSER AND HAGA RIDE FOR YAMAHA IN 2007
Yamaha Motor Italia has signed Australian Troy Corser to ride alongside Noriyuki Haga in the 2007 Superbike World Championship.
The
spectacular line-up demonstrates Yamaha’s commitment to a series they
returned to in 2005. Haga has won races on the R1 in each season –
ending the 2005 and 2006 campaigns third in the standings.
Corser
is a two-time world champion with 33 race wins to his credit. He won
the series with Ducati in 1996 and became the first rider to win the
world superbike championship on a 1000cc four-cylinder machine last
year. The Australian has competed in 250 world superbike races, more
than any other active rider, and alongside Haga will provide Yamaha
with an experienced and formidable squad as they look to win their
first title in the class.
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The first appearance of Troy Corser with the Yamaha Motor Italia squad is planned to take place in Mugello on 25th October.
Troy Corser
“I
am extremely happy to have the chance to work with Yamaha. The team has
lots of experience and is very professional. Nori and I get along well
and I think together we will be strong in development and bike set up.
I’m looking forward to riding the bike and I will be aiming to score my
third world title on the R1.”
Noriyuki Haga
“I’m very happy
to be staying with Yamaha Motor Italia. After two seasons together we
have a very good working relationship and it was always my first choice
to stay with Yamaha and continue our good work. My aim, as always, is
to win the championship and I think Yamaha gives me the best chance to
do it. I am looking forward to working with Troy as he has a lot of
experience. We can learn a great deal from him, which will help make
the bike even more competitive. We have had many great battles over the
years and he is a rider for whom I have a massive amount of respect. I
am sure that he will be a good team-mate - as well as one of my biggest
rivals.”
Massimo Meregalli (Team Coordinator – Yamaha Motor Italia)
”I
believe this rider pairing is a dream come true for any team manager.
With Noriyuki we feel that we are ready to reap the rewards of the past
two years. We have learned his specific bike preparation preferences,
his way of communication and his approach to races. We both share the
same strong feelings and it is now time to cash in on our investments.”
“Troy is a proven championship winner and known as a highly qualified
developer who is obviously very experienced. We expect him to be up
front from the start. It''s important for me to thank Andrew (Pitt) for
all his efforts over the past two years. He did a great job,
nevertheless we have chosen to go for the extra experience of Troy as a
two times world champion. Particularly for his ability to set up a bike
and tyre selection during the race weekend, we expect this to be a
mutual benefit for both riders. We expect that Troy and Noriyuki will
work together closely in the development of the 2007 bike. It’s
essential to be ready from race one to go for the title with both
riders”.
Laurens Klein Koerkamp (Racing Manager - Yamaha Motor Europe)
”To
have Noriyuki and Troy as team-mates gives Yamaha a very strong base
for our 2007 world title challenge. Both riders are big characters in
the world of superbike, who combine experience, consistency and success
with flamboyance and aggression. Noriyuki is a true Yamaha man and part
of the family, having already ridden three different Yamaha models in
world superbike. In the third year with R1 the only objective is to be
champion. Troy brings a wealth of development and bike setting up
experience, that we believe will be beneficial to the whole team. He is
extremely motivated to win a third title with as many different
manufacturers. All in all, I believe we will have two serious title
candidates who will provide an interesting rider cocktail on track and
off track.”
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