Federico Caricasulo and Garrett Gerloff in WorldSBK in 2020 with GRT Yamaha Junior

Hello Marco Melandri, with Sandro Cortese, it is with the support of Yamaha Motor Europe (chaired by Éric de Seynes) that the “GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team” presents a new international team of young riders for the 2020 season of the WorldSBK Championship. World Superbike, with the Italian Federico Caricasulo and the American Garrett Gerloff (photo above, with Toni Elias on the left). This is the birth of a Junior team at Yamaha in Superbike.

Garrett Gerloff has brilliantly and effectively represented Yamaha in Supersport in the United States for years. The 24-year-old Texan was MotoAmerica Supersport Champion in 2016 and 2017 before joining the Yamaha Factory Superbike Team in 2018, with which he made his debut in MotoAmerica Superbike, obtaining a fine podium. Four more podiums followed that year, and Gerloff finished his rookie season fifth in the championship standings.

After a year of experience on the Yamaha YZF-R1, Gerloff stayed with Yamaha in 2019, earning four wins and 15 podium finishes to finish third overall in his second full season in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.

According to Garrett gerloff, “First of all I want to thank Yamaha Motor USA for everything they have done for me. For recruiting me several years ago and always having faith in me. I wouldn't be where I am now without their help. »

“I am really delighted to be able to announce that I will continue my career next year within the Yamaha family with the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team. I look forward to representing America in this Championship. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of and prepared for. I feel like I'm ready to do it. I appreciate that Yamaha Europe is offering me this opportunity to be part of their riders, to represent them and I will try to achieve good results. »

 “I also want to say a big thank you to Ben Spies for supporting me these past few months and mentioning my name. I have a lot of goals that I would like to achieve next year and I know that with the help of the team and the Yamaha R1 that will be entrusted to me, I will have the means to do so. I know it won't be easy, but I never give up. I am ready to give everything to make my dream come true! »

Caricasulo already knows the GRT Yamaha team having participated in the Supersport World Championship in 2017 and 2018, with a YZF-R6 and obtaining ten podiums and three victories in two seasons with this team.

The 23-year-old Italian from Ravenna is currently competing in the 2019 Supersport World Championship in an R6 for a third consecutive season. He has already impressed with a total of nine podiums from twelve races, including three victories, and he is currently second in the championship standings, eight points behind the series leader, Randy Krummenacher, with one race remaining, this Saturday in Qatar.

To Federico Caricasulo, who are " For me it's a dream come true. Having the chance to move up to WorldSBK is already fantastic, but what's more, I have the opportunity to do it with Yamaha in a team that I know well, it's incredible. I have grown and progressed as a rider with the GRT Yamaha Team and been able to develop my potential on the world stage alongside them, I am really excited to join them and start this new adventure. »

 “For now I have to put that aside and focus on my last race of the season. I am second in the Championship, only eight points behind the leader, so everything will be decided in the last event. Nothing could make me happier than entering WorldSBK with a World Supersport Championship title and that's what I will try to achieve this week. »

The GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team is led by Mirko Giansanti, former 125 and 250 Grand Prix rider, as Sporting and Technical Director, with Filippo Conti as team manager. Based in central Italy right next to Terni.

Video: Caricasulo's first World Supersport victory in Thailand in 2017:

Above, Filippo Conti and Federico Caricasulo

Garrett gerloff

Photos © Yamaha Racing