The Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team will be able to count on the technical expertise of renowned Swedish suspension specialists Ohlins for the 2010 FIM MX1 and MX2-GP World Championship after an alliance between the two parties was recently confirmed after successful initial tests.
The new YZ450F of David Philippaerts and 2010 revised YZ250F of fresh recruit Gautier Paulin will embrace the technology of the firm established in 1976. Testing will continue extensively with a view towards achieving optimum set-up for the beginning of the pre-season campaign in February and then the first Grand Prix of fifteen in Bulgaria on April 4th.
For the Rinaldi Group a union with Ohlins will signify a return to earlier glory days in which Michele Rinaldi – then as Team Manager – grasped the first world titles for the squad and Yamaha in the early 1990s (1994, 125cc with Bob Moore, and 1992, 250cc with Donny Schmit).
“I have pleasant memories of working with Ohlins and of course their reputation in the motorcycle sport world is very highly regarded,” commented Team Principal and Owner Michele Rinaldi. “We have two new motorcycles with the latest generation of the YZ450F and the 2010 YZ250F to race in 2010 and we are confident that the support and knowledge of Ohlins will help us achieve our goals both on and off the track.”
“This new co-operation is very exciting for us. We have a completely new damping system ready for the team along with our high level of technical service and support - we believe that a forceful combination has been created”,” said Ohlins Racing Manager Mats Larsson. “The factory team has a fantastic racing history and we look forward to similar success in the future. We are also very much looking forward to being part of the competitive development for the new YZ450F and YZ250F.”
Created by Kenth Ohlin in the mid-1970s, Ohlins won their first world championship in motocross in 1978; it would be the first of 200 titles gained across many disciplines of motorsport. Today the firm has three hubs, in Stockholm, Sweden, North Carolina and in Germany and employees more than 230 people. They have more than 30 employees dedicated to high-end racing support and service.