Superbikes | Caricasulo and Gerloff sign for the GRT Yamaha team

With a great season in World Supersport, Federico Caricasulo has earned the leap into the premier Superbike class: in 2020 he will make his debut in Team GRT Yamaha, with which he competed in the intermediate class in 2017 and 2018, in the World Championship of production derivatives.

At his side there will be a new face, that of the 24-year-old American Garrett Gerloff who arrives in WorldSBK from MotoAmerica.

Caricasulo commented on the agreement reached as follows: “For me it is a dream come true. Having the chance to join WorldSBK is already fantastic, but the opportunity that Yamaha and a team I know well have given me is incredible. I grew up as a rider in the GRT Yamaha team, with them I was able to understand my potential on the world stage and now I'm really excited to be able to return and start this new adventure."

“For the moment, however, I need to put all this aside and focus only on the final race of the season in the Supersport class. I'm second in the championship just eight points off the lead and so I'll put it all on the line in the last race. Nothing could make me happier than moving into the World Superbike Championship with my newly won WorldSSP World Champion title and that's exactly why I'll be giving it my all in Qatar next week."

With Garett Gerloff the relationship between Yamaha and American riders is revived: the last one was Ben Spies in 2009, who preceded riders of the caliber of Colin Edwards and Scott Russell.

Speaking about his arrival on the international stage in WorldSBK, Gerloff said: “I start by thanking Yamaha Motor USA for everything they have done for me, for choosing me as their rider many years ago and for really having faith in me. I wouldn't be here now without their help. I'm really motivated by the idea that I will continue to be part of the Yamaha family in 2020 and this time I will do it with the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team. I can't wait to represent America, it's something I've always dreamed of doing and I've worked hard for, I feel ready. I'm really happy that Yamaha Europe is giving me the opportunity to be one of their team members to try to achieve good results."

Gerloff declared his appreciation for 2009 WorldSBK World Champion Ben Spies who has supported him a lot in recent times.

“A big thank you also goes to Ben Spies for helping me so much over the last few months and for supporting me,” he said. “I have many goals that I want to achieve next year and I know that with the help of the team and the Yamaha R1 I will have an excellent opportunity to achieve this goal. I know it won't be easy but I never get discouraged. I'm ready to give my all and continue chasing my dream!”.