Crutchlow to MotoGP with Yamaha

From Yamaha Racing

Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team rider Cal Crutchlow will move up to join the Monster Energy Tech 3 Team at the end of the 2010 World Superbike season to fight in the MotoGP Championship in 2011.

Crutchlow rejoined the Yamaha family in 2009, successfully taking the World Supersport Championship on the R6 before joining the World Superbike team in 2010. The 24-year-old British rider has fought competitively over the season for podiums and race wins, taking a double victory at Silverstone for his home race.

“Being part of the Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team has been fantastic,” said Crutchlow. “When I first signed with Yamaha for the 2009 World Supersport Championship we went on to win the World Championship and the natural progression was to move to World Superbike. It was an honour to be asked to be part of the team and to remain as part of the Yamaha family. Now I’m again taking another step and I am being brought through to the Tech3 Team as they have done with other riders such as Ben Spies in the past."

The Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team has signed an agreement with Italian MotoGP rider Marco Melandri to replace Crutchlow. The 28-year-old is a former 250cc GP World Champion and has finished as high as second in the MotoGP Championship with five MotoGP race victories to date in his career and a further 10 250ccGP victories.

“I’m very happy with this new challenge, it’s a big change and I want to fight for world superbike wins,” said Melandri. “It’s nice to be back with Yamaha; I know many people there. I was very young when I rode with them before, now I’m much more mature.

"As the reigning 2009 champions The Yamaha Sterilgarda Team have proved to have a very competitive package and are one of the top teams in World Superbike. I realize Superbike is not easy and I know I have to work hard. I’m looking forward to feeling the adrenalin again and fighting for the championship.”