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Luca Cadalora is a three-time World Champion, Grand Prix winner and also rode in WorldSBK – once – at Donington Park in 2001. With a vested interest, the Italian recently visited Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli during the Pirelli Riviera di Rimini Round of the 2016 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship to check out the new YZF-R1, and gave his thoughts on the project, the prospects – and his involvement with the VR46 Riders Academy.

“Pata Yamaha showed their potential at the start of the season, then some injuries created some problems for the team – and the riders,” says Cadalora of Yamaha’s return to WorldSBK. “They are trying to do their best. It’s not an easy job when there’s a new project coming in – they have to be passionate. I think maybe from next year it will be a winning machine. So now it’s just about working and keep going.”

As well as taking a keen interest in the Yamaha WorldSBK project, Cadalora is now involved with the VR46 side of Movistar Yamaha in MotoGP – including the VR46 Riders Academy, and added some thoughts on one of the key talent pools in Italian motorcycling, creating riders such as GP winner Romano Fenati – and former STK600 Champion and now EG 0,0 Marc VDS Moto2 rider Franco Morbidelli.

“They are becoming quite strong, and they are very focused,” added Cadalora on the younger generations of Italian talent. “Focused on training; on doing their best. It’s a great group. We enjoy working and training together, and I think some of them – or most of them – are quite fast. They’ve already shown that in Moto3 and in Moto2. So they’re going in the right direction.”

As are Pata Yamaha, who continue to rake in the points despite their struggles with the health of riders Alex Lowes and Sylvain Guintoli and the newness of their machine. With focus set on a strong performance in 2016 before the newly-returned Japanese manufacturer hopes to push towards a title in 2017, the goal is to replicate their success in the sister MotoGP paddock - in WorldSBK.