Laverty to replace Toseland at Yamaha

Parkalgar Honda supersport rider to move up to the World Superbike championship in 2011

Posted: 10 September 2010
by Robin Goodwin

WORLD SUPERSPORT contender Eugene Laverty has signed a deal to join Sterilgarda Yamaha for the 2011 World Superbike season.

Laverty currently leads the World Supersport championship by 12 points with two rounds and 50 points remaining. Speaking after signing the deal to join Yamaha, Eugene said: "“It’s great to have a contract signed at this stage while still fighting for the title in the Supersport class. I desperately want to win this year before moving on.”

The 2011 season won't be the first time Laverty has raced in blue, he rode a Yamaha R6 in his World Supersport debut over two races in 2008, replacing the injured Fabien Foret. “When I rode the Yamaha YZF-R6 in World Supersport in 2008 I was having a tough time in 250s, it’s nice that Yamaha brought me to the fore and are now giving me the opportunity within superbike.

Speaking on the Yamaha team and the R1 he will ride next year, Laverty commented: "Ben Spies winning the championship in 2009 and Cal Crutchlow now stepping up and winning races shows the bike and team are more than capable so the rest is up to me. I think with the team support and a good testing schedule we can start the 2011 championship ready to be competitive from the first race and be on the podium as early as possible.

"Having a teammate like Marco Melandri is great, he has a wealth of experience to learn from so I’m going to enjoy riding with him.” continued Laverty.

Following Marco Melandri's departure to World Superbike with Sterilgarda Yamaha, the decision to bring Laverty up from World Supersport forces James Toseland out of the team. The two-time World Superbike champion has been linked with a return to Ten Kate Honda or the British Superbike championship.



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Discuss this story


Banoffee Pie
I think you'll find that he's trailing Sofuoglu by 12 points. Regardless, it'll be interesting how well he makes the transition from WSS to WSB. Hope he does well.

Posted: 10/09/2010 at 17:43


jimlindsay
Poor old JT.

Posted: 10/09/2010 at 19:35


Alle Musquiz
Good to see JT leaving Yamaha! He didn't make the cut on a bike that won the championship. I'm sure the italian yamaha team feel the same after they got a good taste on winning races with Ben Spies. Cal Crutchlow did a great job and out paced JT, good luck to him over at Moto GP.

Posted: 10/09/2010 at 20:56


iMarcus
Sorry to hear about JT, but I guess he's never fully got over the crash he had in moto gp winter practice...

Posted: 10/09/2010 at 21:36


pyndman

Toseland has had his moment of form. He's on a downhill slide now and its good he wont be just hanging around with the rot set in like they do with so many other riders, eg Edwards. I cant believe he got another 2 year deal in GP. 


Posted: 11/09/2010 at 09:38


GottaHurt
And his band is shit too ..

Posted: 12/09/2010 at 04:38


Tapmyhed

He is either not cutting the mustard, or Yamaha are suffering with impatience and he is not being given the chance to re-adjust to WSB.

Whatever, JT will put that right in the next season and hopefully, Yamaha, who are now just too big for their boots, will lose out when one of the other teams...headed by JT....start winning again.

Good luck to him.

Besides, I've never owned a Yamaha based on the premise that they make Seagull outboard engines.....and their bikes are shite too.  They were lucky with Rossi, now he's gone...that Spanish twerp is riding on Rossi's development, which means new bike and he'll be shite too....Ben Spies?...could be the one good decision they have made this year.  Letting JT go inside the first year?  Bad mistake.


Posted: 12/09/2010 at 11:44


Maverick Renegade

Good luck to JT, i hate the british tradition of slamming someone coz they're having a rough patch...  

It'll be interesting next season when we see if it's Rossi's development or Yamaha's development that has been winning him races.  He plays so many mind games with the other racers, of course he'd have them believe that they're only succeeding because of his self-professed 'genius'.

I hope he becomes well acquainted with Ben Spies'  rear end next season.. 


Posted: 12/09/2010 at 14:48


Eyore
Good luck to Eugene Laverty, he has real talent and will hopefully do well in WSB

Posted: 14/09/2010 at 16:38

Talkback: Laverty to replace Toseland at Yamaha