Frenchman Christophe Ponsson will not take to the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship grid for the Prosecco DOC Dutch Round at the TT Circuit Assen following a split based on health reasons between Alstare and Gil Motor Sport after the duo combined to form Alstare Yamaha for the 2021 campaign.

Ponsson had originally joined the 2021 grid under the Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha banner but in March it was announced that the title-winning Alstare team would return to WorldSBK, teaming up with Gil Motor Sport and Ponsson for the campaign. It has been a tricky start to the season for Alstare Yamaha with Ponsson claiming one point in the four rounds completed so far.

Francis Batta, who had been team manager for the Alstare Yamaha outfit, did not attend the UK Round at Donington Park after his doctors advised him to avoid all travel for the rest of the year. Due to this additional complication, Gil Motor Sport will once again take over the entire management of the team. Given the short notice of the unforeseen events, the team will need to miss the Dutch Round in order to prepare for the rest of the season with the new structure.

Jean-Christophe Ponsson, Team Owner of Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha, said: “I am extremely touched by what is happening to Francis, it has been more than 20 years that we have known each other, in 2003 and 2004 I was sponsor of Alstare before the debut in 2005 of Gil Motor Sport in WorldSSP with precisely his former rider, Stephane Chambon, with whom Alstare was Supersport World Champion in 1999. So it’s so obvious to me and the team that Francis needs to make his recovery a priority. I want to thank Francis for the work he has done since the start of the season and I wish him the best for his health. Now Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha will do everything to ensure that the team is present from the WordSBK round in Most in the Czech Republic.”

Everyone at WorldSBK wishes Francis Batta well in his recovery.

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