Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to announce the expansion of its bLU cRU program, with the addition of a FIM Supersport World Championship team dedicated to young rider development. For the 2020 season, Team Yamaha WorldSSP bLU cRU will field Andy Verdoïa, 17, and Galang Hendra Pratama, 20, both graduates of the bLU cRU program in WorldSSP300, riding the Yamaha YZF-R6, reigning world champion , in the hotly contested WorldSSP category.
The addition of the bLU cRU Yamaha WorldSSP team for 2020 means that Yamaha's rider development program now extends from national-level grassroots competition right through to the FIM Superbike World Championship. The structure is unique in road racing and is designed not only to identify future world champions, but also to develop their skills and enable them to realize their full potential, all within the Yamaha competition family.
Team bLU cRU Yamaha WorldSSP will be managed by MS Racing, a team that has been an integral part of Yamaha's bLU cRU program in the WorldSSP300 since its inception in 2017.
Andy Verdoïa immediately stood out during his full-time debut with the bLU cRU in WorldSSP300 in 2019, impressing from the start with his speed and consistency. The 17-year-old French driver made his first appearance on the podium at Misano, where he finished third, but it was his performance at the following round, at Donington Park, that defined him as a potential star for the 'future.
The young Frenchman started the race at the bottom of the grid but overtook 26 drivers on the opening lap and was in contact with the leaders after just five laps of the race. Incredibly, at the halfway point he took the lead and, while he was narrowly beaten by bLU cRU teammate Kevin Sabatucci, his second place was undoubtedly the standout performance of the race. Andy Verdoïa then finished the season in fourth place and is the highest placed Yamaha rider in the championship standings.
Galang Hendra made his first appearance on the world stage in 2017, competing in two rounds of the WorldSSP300 class as a wildcard rider. A technical problem forced him to withdraw from the first race in Portimão, but the young Indonesian surprised the paddock by winning the Jerez race the next time out. The following season, the Indonesian rider competed in his first full season in WorldSSP300 as part of Yamaha's bLU cRU project, taking another victory in Brno and finishing tenth in the championship.
Galang Hendra improved his racing technique and consistency to finish the 300 FIM Supersport 2019 World Championship in seventh place overall, but unfortunately missed out on the podium by the narrowest of margins, several times during the year.
Both bLU cRU team riders will begin their transition to WorldSSP and the Yamaha YZF-R6 at the first 2020 pre-season test in Jerez, which begins on January 22.
Andrea Dosoli, Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Director: “I am very pleased that we can finally announce the formation of the bLU cRU Yamaha WorldSSP team for the 2020 season, as it completes the construction of our competition pyramid, from the event from national level to the premier category of WorldSBK. We initially considered placing Galang Hendra and Andy Verdoïa on established WorldSSP teams, but we saw this year at WorldSSP300 that our bLU cRU riders learn from each other and gain confidence by sharing experiences. It would have been difficult for them if we had separated them for the 2020 season but, more importantly, by placing them together in a team where development rather than results is the priority, we are making our intentions for the bLU cRU project clear. and the role of the team within this structure. I think that with the MS Racing team we have found the ideal partner for this project. They have been an integral part of our bLU cRU project in WorldSSP300 and, as we have seen with Andy Verdoïa and Beatriz Neila this year, they have the talent to extract the best from talented but inexperienced riders. This will be a crucial skill in 2020, as Galang Hendra and Andy adapt to the Yamaha YZF-R6 WorldSSP, which is both heavier and more powerful than the Yamaha YZF-R3 WorldSSP300 they are used to. But that’s not the only transition they have to make; In 2020, they will be racing against much more experienced rivals, so learning their competitive craft to reach the next level will also be of paramount importance. I am confident that Galang Hendra and Andy are two drivers who have the talent to be competitive in WorldSSP in the future, and we must now focus all our efforts to help them realize their full potential. It will be a challenge, but one that we at Yamaha are looking forward to, and I think both riders are as well. »
