YART Remain the Same for 2017/2018 EWC Title Challenge

“We cannot wait for the new season as we are confident that we can continue our form that saw us finish this season so strongly. Our results in 2016-2017 have been very good, but we had quite a lot of bad luck, but finally, we have everything in place for the 2017/2018 season to allow us to fight for the championship. I am delighted to confirm our rider line up for the Bol d’Or. Marvin and Kohta have really proved themselves in their rookie seasons, and having Broc in the team with his experience, knowledge, and pace, brings it all together. We feel we are in a very strong position team-wise and we have been working on the bike to bring it closer the to the Yamaha Factory Racing Team machine to give our riders the best chance possible to become Endurance World Champions.”

“This season was a learning year for the team, with two new riders in the championship for the very first time and also our first year with Bridgestone tyres. Considering this, we are delighted with how the season went, our overall pace and how the Bridgestone tyres worked. It is incredible to see how well we performed. At most races, we were battling at the front and it was only really some bad luck that prevented us from winning the title, but the good thing is we can be even stronger this season. Kohta and Marvin have four races under their belts now, they have ridden at night and completed a 24-hour race at Le Mans. Even though this will be their first Bol d’Or, the now know what to expect and we have more experience of working together, both of which are vital factors in endurance racing. We have a great relationship together, they are both such huge young talents, it has been brilliant to pass on my experience and knowledge to them, whether it’s in regards to setup, or just how to relax in-between stints. I am 100% confident we can put in a very strong title challenge this season, we just need a bit more luck than last year!”

“This season has been mine and Kohta’s rookie season and my first-time riding on Bridgestone tyres. Plus, we had to learn most of the tracks and it was also my first-time riding in the dark at Le Mans. Considering all of that, we had an amazing season! We were the fastest team in most of the races, but we just didn’t have any luck. We led at Le Mans, Oschersleben, and Slovakia where we were incredibly unlucky to have the issue with our chain when we had a race-winning lead. I hope that this season we can have a bit more luck. To have Broc and Kohta as teammates again is great. Broc is so strong on the bike and has lots of experience, plus we have very similar riding styles, so our settings are pretty similar on the R1. Kohta is super quick, a MotoGP test rider, and we are all really good friends. We can, of course, improve this year as it is our second season on the Bridgestone tyres and now Kohta and myself know the tracks. We feel a lot stronger and more prepared than last year, so we are ready for the new season.”

“I’m really happy to once again be able to race with YART full-time for another EWC season. I’d also like to thank Team Manager Mandy Kainz and Yamaha for giving me another great opportunity to race on the world stage. Last season, the environment was entirely new for me and I was riding on circuits I’d never been to before. I also wasn’t able to show what I felt I could do at my home round of the Suzuka 8 Hours and we weren’t able to take the title, so it was a painful reminder of how far I still have to go as a rider. But I’ve been able to take two wins in the All Japan JSB1000 class this season, so it’s undeniable that racing and gaining experience in the EWC has helped me improve. The upcoming 2017-2018 season will be my second time in the championship, so I won’t be able to make any excuses this time. No matter the event or circuit, I want to be fast, race hard for the team and my teammates, and help bring YART the title so I can show everybody how far I’ve grown as a racer.”