The economic downturn hit the motorcycle world particularly hard, as many factory-backed road racing efforts closed shop. The decision, while unfortunate, isn’t hard to understand, as racing at the highest levels isn’t cheap, and a factory involvement means added pressure to succeed, which ultimately means spending more money to do so.
Through it all, however, Yamaha has remained involved with the sport, fielding factory teams and sponsoring various riding schools and even racetracks. Now, on the heels of the second round of the AMA Pro Road Racing Championship, May 31 – June 2, at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, the track has announced a multi-year agreement that will make Yamaha its official motorcycle. Continue Reading »