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The first season of the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup is fast approaching and now the first 24 riders for the inaugural season have been confirmed. Aimed at riders aged 12-20 and acting as the first step on the road to WorldSBK, the highly anticipated Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup has attracted global interest with riders from all over the world selected so far, with ten riders on standby.

Registration is still open for the final few spots for young riders looking to make it all the way to the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, with the R3 bLU cRU European Cup set to take place with 12 races across six rounds on the WorldSBK support bill. The 24 riders, plus those who fill the remaining few slots on the grid, will take part in promotion and test days at Misano across the 18^th and 19^th March. In attendance will be Turkish sensation Toprak Razgatlioglu (PATA YAMAHA WorldSBK Official Team), WorldSSP record-breaker Andrea Locatelli (PATA YAMAHA WorldSBK Official Team) and American Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team), who stunned throughout his rookie season in 2020 as he claimed three podiums.

Among those selected so far is 17-year-old Gregory Carbonnel, from France, after he claimed every victory from pole position in the French Supersport 300 championship in 2020. Carbonnel said: “After participating in the bLU cRU camp in France in 2018 and the Masterclass in 2019, I'm very happy to enter the first Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup, and I can't wait to be in the pre-season test in Misano. I think this championship is a good step for my career and it falls at the right time for me to continue evolving. All the riders will be on equal machinery, which makes it fair for all and it allows me to compare myself to others around Europe. My objectives this season are to continue learning and make step-by-step progress, while enjoying myself and discovering new circuits too. I hope over the next few years, through my results and motivation, that I get to continue to live this amazing adventure with the Yamaha family that has supported me greatly since the beginning.”

Brody Crockford has also been selected for the inaugural season and will make the step up after a strong 2020 campaign where he finished third in the Junior Supersport season in the UK. Crockford said: “I’m excited to continue to be part of the Yamaha bLU cRU program in 2021 and take the next step in my racing career with the inaugural Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup. No other manufacturer offers the same route or support for young riders looking to progress and I am really looking forward to learning the top European circuits and racing against riders from across the world. The focus is to be competitive and really demonstrate what I can do to be able to progress through the bLU cRU program, ultimately to WorldSBK! The exposure to factory teams by being part of this series is incredible, as well as the opportunity to learn from the official Yamaha WorldSBK riders and bLU cRU coaches!”

Team Brasil will feature four entries in the 2021 season with Humberto “Toquinho” Maier being one of them. It will be Maier’s first time competing in European road racing and has been training intensively in his native Brazil. He said: “I'm really looking forward to the start of the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup, after so long waiting. We have been training intensively in Brazil, to be best prepared for the new season. It will be a challenging and also important year for my career, my goal is to represent Brazil while giving my all. It is an honour and a dream come true to be part of the bLU cRU program in Brazil and now also in Europe. The project is very encouraging, and I am sure it will be fundamental to my evolution."

Giacomo Mora’s first taste of the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup will come in his home country in March. The Carpi-born rider has experience of WorldSSP300, including at Misano, having taken part in two races in 2018 and 2019 and taking a best result of 20^th. Mora said: “I’m very excited for the new season. I chose this championship because I believe in the Yamaha bLU cRU project, it means a lot to be taking part in the first-ever edition of the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup. I’m looking forward to comparing my performance to others around Europe. It’s also a good opportunity to race on some new and famous tracks. I hope to achieve some excellent results and start my journey to WorldSBK, which has always been my goal. I feel physically and mentally strong, I’ve been training a lot and I’m ready to start this new adventure.”

Riders who are interested in signing up to the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup can find out more information and register today here.

To download the full provisional entry list, click here.

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