The highly anticipated Yamaha R3 European Cup bLU cRU will debut alongside next season's FIM Superbike World Championship rounds, with entries now open to aspiring young riders looking to take their first step towards the top of motorcycle racing. Registrations for this unique category will be open until December 15, 2020.
Fruit of a collaboration between Yamaha Motor Europe, FIM Europe and the Dorna WSBK organization (DWO), supported by JiR (Japan Italy Racing), the Yamaha R3 European Cup blue cRU was originally scheduled to take place in 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic led to its postponement, but it will now join the WorldSBK calendar for six rounds comprising two races each.
For next year, the championship is open to young people aged 12 to 20, with a maximum capacity of 36 drivers. There will also be two wildcards per event, and all participants must be licensed by the FIM.
The Yamaha R3 European Cup blue cRU is the ideal first step for young riders on the “Road to WorldSBK”. The series will be contested exclusively aboard R3 motorcycles from multiple FIM Supersport 300 World Championship winner Yamaha and will benefit from a live television broadcast.
As this is a fully supported championship, riders will receive a race-ready Yamaha YZF-R3, a complete package including Pirelli tires, fuel, coaching and technical support for a fixed cost of 27 euros per season, allowing them to simply start and run.
This cost includes a dedicated pre-season test at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in March, where drivers will receive their racing kit consisting of a helmet, leather suit, gloves, boots and Paddock clothing Blue before getting to grips with the Yamaha R3 ahead of the first race of the 2021 campaign.
At the end of the 12 races, the overall series champion will earn a place on the FIM Superport 300 World Championship grid in 2022 with the WorldSSP300 team bLU cRU, provided that he is over 15 years old. The runner-up in the standings will be offered a wildcard entry into WorldSSP300 for the following season, as well as a 50% reduction on their registration for the Yamaha R3 European Cup. blue cRU 2022, which will also be awarded to the driver who finishes third in the championship.
Additionally, the top three drivers in the series at the end of the season will be automatically entered into the Masterclass bLU cRU of Yamaha Motor Europe, where they will continue to learn and develop under the guidance of the ambassadors blue cRU from Yamaha.
Riders can register their interest to compete in the inaugural Yamaha R3 European Cup blue cRU by clicking here. For more information on the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup, Click here.
Martin de Graaff, president of the FIM Europe : "Chis new Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup is part of our focus at FIM Europe, with young riders preparing for European and World Championship racing. It fits perfectly into our program. For young drivers, the opportunity to compete at this level, in front of important World Championship teams and, coronavirus permitting of course, in front of large numbers of spectators, must be a dream. FIM Europe would like to thank Yamaha Motor Europe and DWO for this opportunity. »
Gregorio lavilla, sporting director of the FIM Superbike World Championship : « After the difficult situation of 2020, the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup will take place in 2021, welcoming new young talents to the WorldSBK paddock. With the main objective being to give promising young talents a chance to participate in the “Road to WorldSBK” projects, the level of competition will be very high and very entertaining, as well as being a championship where riders can master their craft and gain in stature. It is very important that one of the most iconic manufacturers in history is working with WorldSBK to provide support and resources for the next generation of WorldSBK stars, while on-track racing in 2021 will offer more action at the cutting edge of technology. »
Alberto Barozzi, racing director of Yamaha Motor Europe blue cRU : « We have been impressed by the reception to the new 3 Yamaha R2021 bLU cRU European Cup. After being forced to cancel the series this year due to coronavirus, we are expecting renewed interest from European pilots eager to take their first steps on the world stage. We have also been pleasantly surprised by the number of runners from overseas, particularly from Asian and South American countries, who view the series as the perfect springboard for racing in Europe. Our goal has always been to make the championship accessible to all riders, regardless of their nationality, and I think the level of interest shows that we have achieved this. FIM Europe and DWO share our goal and we are very proud of it. We are happy to be the first step on the “Road to WorldSBK”, which constitutes a clear source of inspiration for the new generation. Young riders who want to showcase their talents to a truly international audience will have to act quickly, only 36 will have the opportunity to make their dream come true, with entries for the inaugural Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup closing on December 15, 2020. »
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