bLU cRU Ready to Take Fight to Rivals at Donington

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The five Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Challenge riders head to Donington Park for Round 4 of the 2018 Supersport 300 World Championship buoyed from their excellent performances at the last round in Imola. Galang Hendra Pratama leads the way in the challenge with 11 points after finishing fifth in Italy, with Luca Bernardi and Dennis Koopman in second and third respectively thanks to their point-scoring finishes at the last round, while Hugo de Cancellis and Joep Overbeeke are still hunting for their first championship points.

Galang Hendra Pratama (Yamaha Pata | Semakin di Depan | Biblion Motoxracing Team) has led the way for the bLU cRU boys in almost every session so far in 2018, with his DNF at Assen the only blot in his impressive copy book. A sensational ride in Imola saw him secure the best finish so far by any bLU cRU rider in 2018 after crossing the line in fifth and battling for the podium the entire race. The 19-year-old Indonesian is 14th in the overall standings with 11 points – plus leads the way in the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Challenge – and he will now look to build on this result and secure his first WorldSSP300 podium at Donington Park.

Local hero Luca Bernardi (Yamaha Pata | Trasimeno Team) sent the Italian fans home in raptures in Imola after incredibly charging from 39th on the grid to finish in 12th and record his first points-scoring finish of 2018. The 16-year-old Italian is now 19th on the overall standings and second in the challenge with four points.

Dennis Koopman (Yamaha Pata | Semakin di Depan | GRT Team) pulled out all the stops during the race at Imola to cross the line in a brilliant 14th place after qualifying in 26th. The 21-year-old Dutch is now on a roll of two consecutive point-scoring finishes after securing 15th at his home round in Assen and occupies 23rd in the championship standings with three points and is now third in the challenge.

Also excelling in the race at Imola was Hugo de Cancellis (Yamaha Pata | Toth – YART Team) as the 16-year-old French rider stormed his way through the field from 36th on the grid to cross the line in 18th, only missing out on his first championship point by a second. Joep Overbeeke (Yamaha Pata | Trasimeno Team) is another rider to still be hunting for his first championship point after the 18-year-old blasted his way from 36th on the grid to finish in 22nd at Imola.

The five Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Challenge riders hit the track at Donington Park for Round 4 of the 2018 WorldSSP300 Championship on Friday morning at 11:45 am local time (GMT+1) for FP1, with qualifying scheduled at 11:45am on Saturday and Sunday’s due to start at 2.20 pm.

Alberto Barozzi

Yamaha Motor Europe bLU cRU Racing Manager

“All five bLU cRU riders showed their potential at Imola with the new regulations making a real difference. I am proud of them all and how they have fought back despite a tough start to the season and I really believe that this is just the beginning, they have shown the real bLU cRU racing spirit. One of the biggest tasks will be to learn the Donington Park track and the boys are keen to hit the circuit on Friday morning for the first time to see what they can do. The bLU cRU boys have improved at every round so far this season and I feel there is even more to come in Donington this weekend where they will continue the bLU cRU fightback…the Yamaha YZF-R3 is back!”

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