News

South African Sam Lochoff and Portuguese rider Tomas Alonso are the latest entrants to be announced ahead of the 2018 FIM World Supersport 300 Championship, as the pair confirm their partnership with Samurai YART Racing. The two 15-year-olds will be riding YART prepared Yamaha YZF-R3, and their age will not prevent the team from focusing on strong results from day one.

Alonso was a winner of the Oliveira Cup in 2017, training and working alongside Miguel Oliveira in his sports development, and his dedication paid dividends when the Lisbon local achieved third in Portugal’s National PreMoto3 Championship. The teenager has shown increasing promise, as he looks to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Marc Garcia – the champion of this year’s World Supersport 300 crown.

Alongside Alonso, Lochoff is not so new to the World Supersport 300 class, when the young gun from South Africa rode as a Wildcard entry for WSSP 300 at the 2017 Portuguese Round with Samurai Racing. He is considered one of the most promising riders of his country and featured this year in the South African SuperJunior National Championship, as well as numerous other regional championship events, and is now ready to gain further momentum with a debut on the world stage fulltime.

For 2018 the duo will be based in Portugal, with team coach and mentor Johannesburg's Sheridan Morais creating the best start possible. One of the most experienced riders in the Superbike World Championship paddock, the veteran South African has competed in various categories since his first season of the Superstock 1000 class in 2006. Morais’ achievements on track will undoubtedly help the teenagers in their battle for top results.