The amalgamation of the DP19 Yamaha Official EMX250 Team and fellow Italian squad SDM Corse MX Team - to form ASTES4-TESAR Yamaha - will mean Yamaha Motor Europe will be able to count on a first class set-up in 2017 European Championship motocross and a vital stage of development in the manufacturer's structure to reach the very top of the sport. Fabio Tognella will be overseeing the new 'wing' as Marketing Manager with Daniele Marchese as Team Manager and former MX1 (MXGP) World Champion David Philippaerts as Rider Manager.
The crew will field an exciting trio of emerging racing talent in the forms of Maxime Renaux (EMX250), Karlis Sabulis (EMX250) and Roan Van de Moosdijk (EMX250) on YZ250F technology.
32 year old Philippaerts has been winding down his riding career over the last year, and since the launch of his own racing structure three years ago in Yamaha blue. The 2008 MX1 (MXGP) World Champion - just the second athlete in the history of the sport to win Grands Prix in both principal categories of MX2 and MXGP - has been focussed together with Yamaha on developing the next generation of potential motocross winners. In 2016 'DP' helped Dutch teenager Van de Moosdijk make an impression in the EMX125 series with the YZ125 and captured fifth place overall - and a podium finish in Latvia - as well as the runner-up spot in the FIM Junior World Championship fixture in Russia. The Italian's organisation and expertise has also been put to excellent use through Yamaha's YZ125 competition to unearth yet more young competitive prospects and the formation of the Masterclass sessions offering invaluable tuition to the reams of YZ125 riders around the continent.
"Three years ago I started my own team by myself and it was pretty tough but I learned so much about going racing in the right way," Philippaerts said. "This new move to put two-teams-into-one comes at a great time to do something a bit different and very strong for Yamaha. For me it is also a new role where I can focus more on what I am good at and what I'd like to do; be based more around the riders and making sure everything from a technical and supply side is right. We are joining together to make a great team and I'm really happy."
Daniele Marchese (Team Manager): "For me it is the confirmation that, in the past seasons, we have done a good job and that the passion for this sport is the key to winning. Throughout these years SDM Corse, with a clear project, tried to build a structured team including knowledgeable people in their fields that are able to manage the technical part and the general organisation - that the modern motocross requires - in the best way possible. The new cooperation with David complete the important aspect of the preparation of the riders and we are sure that all of us together with Yamaha we can soon reach important results."
The SDM Corse MX Team come into the Yamaha breach for the first time in 2017 and their passion and logistical capabilities will be an important asset when it comes to the breadth of the nine-round European contest next season. Latvian Karlis Sabulis will be negotiating his second term on the YZ250F in EMX250 for what is the final stepping stone to Grand Prix; #16 having already made some MX2 wild-card appearances this summer. The addition of Frenchman Maxime Renaux completes the roster and the former Junior World Champion, European Champion and national number one will be aiming to resurrect his lightning career trajectory after an elbow injury halted some of his progress in EMX250 in 2016. The sixteen year old is regarded as one of the brightest lights on the European scene and will most certainly be one to watch in '17.
"Our ASTES4-TESAR Yamaha Official EMX Team is excited to start the new 2017 season with Yamaha," commented Fabio Tognella. "This is a new deal for us and a great opportunity to grow our team and develop our skills. For me in particular it's a challenge that makes me proud and we want to repay the trust that Yamaha have given us. This is the result of the good work we have made and we are convinced that with Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. we will achieve new goals. My partner Daniele Marchese, David Philippaerts and I want to thank Yamaha Motor Europe for the warm welcome, and we already feel like part of the family."
"From Michele Rinaldi's Factory MXGP team to Wilvo and then to MX2 with our Kemea works team we have a fantastic 'path' in place for the Yamaha riders coming through the system and ASTES4-TESAR Yamaha Official EMX Team is another pivotal stage in that process," commented Yamaha Motor Europe MX Manager Erik Eggens. "We have some very talented, experienced and knowledgeable people helping the guys develop as riders and professionals with this European project and the agreements and vision we all have together means it is another racing scheme that we cannot wait to launch."
Copyright: Photo: Yamaha Racing
