Valentino Rossi To Teach New Yamaha Riders

In an effort to help young talent develop their racing careers, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and the VR46 Riders Academy are proud to present "The Master Camp," a project that offers selected Yamaha riders a chance to learn from none other than living MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi.

Young Yamaha talent is offered the opportunity of a lifetime; Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. has nominated five Yamaha riders currently competing in the Asia Production 250 (AP250) class of the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) to attend the VR46 Riders Academy.

The selected riders will travel to Valentino Rossi's hometown of Tavullia in Italy to take part in a program dubbed "The Master Camp" from July 4th - 8th, 2016, where they will receive instruction and guidance from none other than nine-time World Champion and living MotoGP legend, Valentino Rossi, with the goal of improving their racing skills.

The participants for the first run of this exclusive program were chosen amongst young Yamaha riders from Asia, based on their current AP250 class points standings, age and other factors. "The Master Camp" that they will be a part of will combine the knowledge and experience of both Yamaha and the VR46 Riders Academy to train, develop and prepare young riders to flourish on the world stage of motorcycle racing.

The planned curriculum for the program will have Rossi himself and full-time VR46 Riders Academy instructors teaching the participants about dirt track riding at the Motor Ranch at the Academy, track riding at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli and other technique enhancing activities.

To support young Italian riders aiming to become world-class racers, Rossi decided to put his vast experience and knowledge from his many years of racing to good use and established the VR46 Riders Academy in 2014. Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is currently in the process of creating a step-up model and system to provide tier-based opportunities for young riders to further develop their careers. With the goal to help young talent make their way in the racing world, Yamaha entered into a formal three-year partnership agreement with the VR46 Riders Academy in March 2016 as an Official Partner and also as its Official Motorcycle Supplier.

The VR46 Academy will play a key role as a step in Yamaha's rider development and mentoring system by boosting the motivation of young riders, provide them with an unparalleled riding experience and build up skills to help them move up through the step-up program.