Yamaha and Ricci Racing End Memorable Collaboration‏

Yamaha Motor Europe and the Ricci Racing Team have decided to walk
separate paths after a long, hard-working and successful relationship.
Team owner Ilario Ricci and his Italian crew will attempt new
challenges for the 2011 FIM MX-GP World Championship and beyond.

Under the control and expertise of Ricci
the team have enjoyed a close and positive association with Yamaha and
YRRD (Yamaha Rinaldi Research and Development) and have posted notable
results at the highest level since the beginning of the century and
through fourteen years of partnership. Their accolades include a
runner-up position in the 2005 MX2-GP category with YZ250F technology
steered by the late Andrew McFarlane. Ricci has also picked up numerous
podium trophies thanks to the likes of Alessio Chiodi, Andrea Bartolini
and Loic Larrieu and five MX2-GP victories with Davide Guarneri,
Nicolas Aubin and McFarlane. In 2010 they sampled their very first
MX1-GP success with the YZ450FM and Ken De Dycker with his double moto
triumph in Germany.

“It was a difficult decision because we
have been with Yamaha for a long time but we now have something new to
try in Grand Prix racing,” said Ricci, who also oversaw three Italian
Championship title wins with Bartolini, Chiodi and Guarneri. “I must
give thanks to Yamaha, Michele Rinaldi and his YRRD technicians and
racing staff. We created some very good memories in the last fourteen
years.”

“We were able to count on excellent
support and a good collaboration with Ilario and his team; he will try
something new and of course we respect that,” commented YRRD Principal
Michele Rinaldi. “I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to Ricci
Racing for what they have done for Yamaha and the assistance they have
given in the development of our motorcycles.”

"After an extended and successful
partnership for many years between Yamaha and Ilario Ricci, we will go
different directions for the future,” said Laurens Klein Koerkamp,
Racing Manager Yamaha Motor Europe. “It is a sad feeling after working
closely for such a long time but the GP results with the wins and
podiums his team have achieved will always remain a part of Yamaha's
history in Motocross. Yamaha wishes Ilario all the best with new
challenges in a different setting.”