Yamaha Motor Europe’s bLU cRU program was recognised for its contribution to encouraging youngsters into the world of motorcycling during the recent Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Awards ceremony in Rimini, Italy, where the program won the prestigious Award for the Future.
The FIM Award for the Future is aimed at rewarding the people who have contributed to improving and developing youngsters in all motorcycling related activities. Through opportunities at national or international level, promoting role models and developing mentoring programmes, creating new competitions and classes designed for youngsters.
The FIM awarded Yamaha Motor Europe this year as over 400 young riders took part in this seasons bLU cRU project across both the road and off-road sides. The young riders who have taken part in the bLU cRU in 2022 have benefitted from coaching, technical support and an opportunity to further their racing career.
Eric de Seynes, President and CEO, Yamaha Motor Europe on the bLU cRU winning the award:
“Firstly, I would like to thank Mr. Jorge Viegas and the FIM for recognising our bLU cRU program with the prestigious Award for the Future. To accept the trophy on behalf of Yamaha Motor Europe at the FIM Awards, an event that honours the elite of motorcycle sport, was a proud moment. Yamaha races across many disciplines and many classes, and we obviously race to win, but that isn’t our only goal.
"As a manufacturer we also have a responsibility to safeguard the future of our sport by making it accessible to the next generation of racers and to ensure, by supporting the riders and their families, that real talent can be identified and nurtured. This is the philosophy of the bLU cRU, and it is this approach that has allowed World Champions like Maxime Renaux and Alvaro Diaz to realise their full potential within the Yamaha Racing family.
"However, the bLU cRU isn’t limited to youngsters with World Championship aspirations, it’s also aimed at those that race purely for fun. Events like the YZ bLU cRU SuperFinale see our youngsters racing alongside their heroes, making memories that will last them a lifetime. I am immensely proud of our bLU cRU program, and I would encourage other manufacturers to consider something similar in the future. We can compete on track, but when it comes to securing the future of the sport, we need to work together.”
Back in 2017 the YZ bLU cRU Cup started where riders could enter three classes around various national championships in Europe: YZ65, YZ85 and YZ125. The top 120 riders then got selected to take part in the YZ SuperFinale. Where the riders would be judged by their performance, and the winners of each class earnt support from Yamaha for the next season.
For the 2019 Yamaha expanded into road racing. They supported riders in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship. The most impressive riders would be promoted into the FIM Supersport World Championship with Yamaha support.
For 2021 Yamaha Motor Europe then introduced the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup, which supports rounds of the FIM Superbike World Championship. The overall winner would get promoted to the World Supersport 300 class with full support from Yamaha.
