| Yamaha Motor Europe and the Ricci Racing Team have decided to walk separate paths after a long, hard-working and successful relationship. Team owner Ilario Ricci and his Italian crew will attempt new challenges for the 2011 FIM MX-GP World Championship and beyond.
Under the control and expertise of Ricci the team have enjoyed a close and positive association with Yamaha and YRRD (Yamaha Rinaldi Research and Development) and have posted notable results at the highest level since the beginning of the century and through fourteen years of partnership. Their accolades include a runner-up position in the 2005 MX2-GP category with YZ250F technology steered by the late Andrew McFarlane. Ricci has also picked up numerous podium trophies thanks to the likes of Alessio Chiodi, Andrea Bartolini and Loic Larrieu and five MX2-GP victories with Davide Guarneri, Nicolas Aubin and McFarlane. In 2010 they sampled their very first MX1-GP success with the YZ450FM and Ken De Dycker with his double moto triumph in Germany.
"It was a difficult decision because we have been with Yamaha for a long time but we now have something new to try in Grand Prix racing," said Ricci, who also oversaw three Italian Championship title wins with Bartolini, Chiodi and Guarneri. "I must give thanks to Yamaha, Michele Rinaldi and his YRRD technicians and racing staff. We created some very good memories in the last fourteen years."
"We were able to count on excellent support and a good collaboration with Ilario and his team; he will try something new and of course we respect that," commented YRRD Principal Michele Rinaldi. "I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to Ricci Racing for what they have done for Yamaha and the assistance they have given in the development of our motorcycles."
"After an extended and successful partnership for many years between Yamaha and Ilario Ricci, we will go different directions for the future," said Laurens Klein Koerkamp, Racing Manager Yamaha Motor Europe. "It is a sad feeling after working closely for such a long time but the GP results with the wins and podiums his team have achieved will always remain a part of Yamaha's history in Motocross. Yamaha wishes Ilario all the best with new challenges in a different setting." |
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