As part of the traditional Pitstop Day, Ten Kate Racing presented its new project for the Superbike World Championship. For the Dutch, a new era began with the Yamaha R1 and Loris Baz.
It’s an unmissable event among the Batavians. Motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the country gather to attend the annual event held in Nieuwleusen. Lots of things are on offer. This year, Gerrit and Ronald Ten Kate used this stage to present their new colors at the 2019 Superbike World Championship. It is strange to see the Dutch in other paints than those of Honda. But this time, it is Yamaha blue that will prevail.
Ten Kate was deprived of Honda's support in November 2018 and the racing team was forced into bankruptcy. However, the Dutch were too proud to retire in this way and immediately announced a restart of competition activities. The new partner is Yamaha. It's been official since the beginning of April.
Ten Kate has not remained inactive in the weeks since mid-March. The team's trucks were repainted in Yamaha colors at the April 20 presentation, with the R1 ready for racing – but no testing has yet been carried out. The first laps will take place in Misano at the end of May, the first race is scheduled for the second weekend of June, in Jerez.
« I'm wearing my new leather for the first time and I also saw the bike for the first time », said Loris Baz. " It's a special moment for me, I'm very excited. The R1 looks great, which makes the wait even harder until the first race. The winter months have been long, it is difficult to continue to wait. I can't wait to do the first test in Misano ».
The Ten Kate Yamaha Loris Baz will be the fifth R1 in the peloton, in addition to two Pata Yamahas (Alex Lowes, Michael van der Mark) and the two GRT Yamaha (Sandra Cortese, Marco Melandri).
