BLUCRU

Five young Spanish YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup riders got the chance to meet their heroes and learn from some of the best coaches in the sport as they took part in the MXGP Academy at the MXGP of Spain in Madrid.

Yamaha's bLU cRU program shares the same ethos as the FIM Europe MXGP Academy. The two work in unison to provide an opportunity for racers at national level to experience the world of professional racing to help create the next generation of champions. For both Yamaha and the FIM Europe, the program is not just about teaching the stars of tomorrow how to go fast on track. It also emphasises rider education, safety and sportsmanship while aiming to create memorable experiences for the talented young riders that take part. 

The MXGP Academy just one of the many benefits for Yamaha’s YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup riders. It complements the bLU cRU program by inviting 85cc and 65cc riders to attend selected FIM Motocross World Championship rounds to experience what racing is like at the highest level. The MXGP of Spain was the third Academy of the year, following on from events held at the MXGP of Portugal and MXGP of Latvia, with two more scheduled in 2022 at the MXGP of Germany (10-12th June) and the MXGP of Finland (12-14th August).

The bLU cRU riders were invited to the MXGP Academy in Spain based on their performances in their national championship. This year, a talented young female rider was selected, Carmen Gómez (YZ85), who attended the academy alongside her friends and rivals Jaume Martinez (YZ85), Mateo Collado (YZ65), Jose Antonio Orea (YZ65) and Iñaki Tolosa (YZ65). The riders were also allowed to bring along members of their families, who also took part in a ‘parent-training’ seminar that offered tips on guiding and nurturing their young athletes in a professional and supportive manner.

On Friday afternoon, the riders attended a special briefing with the MXGP Academy instructors Jan Postema and Martin van Genderen, and the MXGP Academy coach, two-time FIM Motocross World Champion John van der Berk. The briefing was followed by a technical session that highlighted safety and professionalism for the riders and a workshop for the family members that focused on how they could better understand and communicate with their young motocross rider.

Once the classwork was done, it was time to hit the Xanadu-Arroyomolinos track for two 45-minute sessions under the watchful eye of the coaches, and a flurry of MXGP stars that were out walking the track such as two-time FIM Motocross World Champion Maxime Renaux, and EMX125 title challenger Karlis Reisulis. On track, the focus was on improving technique, with each rider making impressive progress over the two sessions and ending the day with a massive smile on their face.

On Saturday, the MXGP academy attendees were taken on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the paddock where they saw and experienced how the world's biggest teams and riders approach a World Championship race weekend. The bLU cRU riders were able to see the Factory Yamaha MXGP and MX2 teams in action, including stars Maxime Renaux, Jeremy Seewer, Glenn Coldenhoff, Jago Geerts, and Thibault Benistant, and had the chance to speak to the previous MXGP round winner Gebben van Venrooy Yamaha’s Calvin Vlaanderen. After spending the day with their heroes, Sunday was all about watching them do what they do best, as they got to see all the action unfold trackside with their families.

After an incredible MXGP academy experience, all five riders have shifted their attention back to their national championship and the YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup, which in 2022 sees 395 riders competing in 21 countries across Europe on Yamaha YZ125, YZ85, and YZ65 motocross bikes. From the bLU cRU Cup, 120 of the fastest young riders will be invited to race the YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale, which will take place at the MXGP of Charente Maritime, in Saint Jean d’Angely, France (19-21 August).

From the SuperFinale, the top three finishers and two wildcards from each class will be invited to attend the prestigious bLU cRU Masterclass at the end of the year. At the end of the Masterclass, the winners will be selected. The YZ125 bLU cRU Cup winner will receive the ultimate prize of a place on Yamaha Motor Europe supported EMX125 team, where he or she will race a GYTR kitted YZ125 in the 2023 EMX125 Championship, while the selected YZ65 and YZ85 riders receive added support and GYTR parts for the following season.

Carmen Gómez – Yamaha bLU cRU YZ85: “I enjoyed the MXGP Academy experience a lot this weekend. I learned that it is very important to follow the schedule, be on time and to learn to speak English. I also learned that by working and training hard there is no reason why I couldn’t be one of the top riders in the future. We also learned a lot on track, such as allowing the bike to run through corners and that braking too hard ahead of the corner loses you corner speed. The most exciting part of the weekend was meeting the MXGP riders, going inside the team awnings and seeing how they work. It was amazing to ride on the same track, on the same day, as the best riders in the world. An incredible experience!”

Jaume Martínez – Yamaha bLU cRU YZ85: “It was incredible to be a part of the MXGP Academy this weekend. We got to see how an MXGP weekend works from the inside, and how the teams and riders prepare for the races. We also received coaching to improve our riding and it was amazing to ride the same track as my favourite MXGP riders on the same weekend. An unforgettable experience!”

Martin Van Genderen – MXGP Academy Coordinator: "The core of the MXGP Academy is to help riders, trainers, and National Motorsports Federations with educational training programs, to help improve the foundation for training and development for young riders within motocross. We want to give the brightest young talents of tomorrow the chance to experience what it is like to race at the highest level and, more importantly, to learn from the best. With the MXGP Academy and bLU cRU program, we hope to bring the best young riders from all over the world into the spotlight and give them a structured and supported pathway from the national level to the world stage."

Alexandre Kowalski - Yamaha Motor Europe Off-Road Racing Manager: “It was great to see the YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup kids take part in the MXGP Academy in Spain. The Academy is an incredible opportunity for young riders and their families to experience life inside the paddock, while learning from some of the best in the business, and from our current MXGP stars. It is always nice to see the young YZ65 and YZ85 riders out on the MXGP track, just like we do at the bLU cRU YZ FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale. And it is also nice to offer them a chance to interact with some of our top MXGP riders, like this weekend it was Calvin Vlaanderen. They also got to see Maxime Renaux, who started out like them on a YZ85, win his first MXGP round with a double moto victory in his rookie season! Something like that shows what can be achieved and I hope one of them can do the same one day. I saw a lot of happy faces this weekend. I am sure they enjoyed the experience and hopefully, we will see them again at the YZ bLU cRU Cup Superfinale in August.”

Photo Copyright: Yamaha Racing

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 18 May 2022 – Infront Moto Racing is delighted to share that fans can now get their hands on tickets for the MXGP of Charente Maritime in St Jean d'Angely which will host the 18^th round of the FIM Motocross World Championship on the 20^th and 21^st of August!

For the first time since 2019, MXGP will return to St Jean d'Angely for what is set to be another epic weekend in France with race action from the MXGP, MX2 and EMX250 as well as the finals of the YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup.

Witness the fastest premiere and youth riders go head-to-head by getting your tickets for the MXGP of Charente Maritime HERE!

Why not upgrade and go VIP? Check out the details for the VIP GOLD SKYBOX pass HERE!

The first month of 2022 has flown by in the blink of an eye, and you know what that means! The deadline for submissions to join the 2022 YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup is fast approaching. Yamaha Motor Europe has already received more than 280 entries, and there is still time to enter! If your son or daughter rides a YZ125, YZ85 or YZ65 in one of the approved national championships and meets the age criteria, they're eligible to join. Get in quick! Entries close on February 28th.

What is the YZ bLU cRU FIM EuropeCup? In 2015 Yamaha Motor Europe introduced the YZ125 bLU cRU Cup offering young motocross riders the best opportunity to find their feet in the world of professional racing. Following its instant success, and as a result of the positive response following the release of Yamaha’s YZ65 and updated YZ85 models in 2018, Yamaha expanded the program to include kids that ride YZ65 or YZ85's in their national championships.

The philosophy for all three YZ Cup categories matches FIM Europe's MXGP Academy, where the emphasis is placed on rider education and sportsmanship. Consequently, an alliance was formed, and as of 2019, the name of the YZ bLU cRU Cup has changed to include this new partner.

Now with three classes, 120 riders have a chance to win a place on the gate at the 2022 YZ bLU cRU Cup Superfinale, and three talented youngsters have a chance to become a supported Yamaha rider in 2023.

Forty riders from each class will win a place at the 2021 bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale that will take place at a round of the FIM Motocross World Championship. Fro the SuperFinale, two wild card riders will join the top three finishers in each class at the bLU cRU Masterclass, an event specifically designed to give young riders the advice and coaching needed to progress their riding.

At the Masterclass, the young riders will compete, learn, grow and develop over the three days of intense training and at the end of it, one YZ125 rider will be selected to compete in the 2023 EMX125 Championship aboard a GYTR kitted YZ125 for a Yamaha Motor Europe supported team, and the 65 and 85 riders will receive added support for their 2023 seasons.

If you want to give your child the best shot at taking their riding to the next level, now is the time to enter.

Entries close on February 28th.

For more information, or to enter, click here.

Following a successful display of speed, skill and determination, paired with a fantastic attitude off the track at the 2021 bLU cRU Masterclass in Spain earlier this month, Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to announce the three winners of the YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup and the two riders who will benefit from support in next year’s Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup.

Following a successful display of speed, skill and determination, paired with a fantastic attitude off the track at the 2021 bLU cRU Masterclass in Spain earlier this month, Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to announce the three winners of the YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup and the two riders who will benefit from support in next year’s Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup.

The winner of the YZ125 category is 16-year-old Frenchman Adrien Petit, who earns a place in the Yamaha bLU cRU Team by Aussio, where he will contest the 2022 EMX125 Championship aboard a GYTR kitted YZ125. Elsewhere, 13-year-old Swiss rider Noe Zumstein has been selected as the winner in the YZ85 division, while 11-year-old Dane Bertram Thorius was awarded the top spot in the YZ65 class. Both Zumstein and Bertram will benefit from additional Yamaha support for their 2022 seasons. 

Of the 21 road racing entries, the two winners were 18-year-old Spanish rider Yerai Ruiz and 17-year-old Italian Andrea Pizzoli. Both will receive a supported entry into the 2022 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup, a championship that debuted this season supporting the FIM Superbike World Championship, in which the overall winner will earn a spot on the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship grid as part of Yamaha’s bLU cRU program. 

The Masterclass took place just outside of Barcelona, Spain, in Alcarrás, bringing together a group of bright young Yamaha Racing talents from both on and off-road racing disciplines. The event ran to a schedule that has been mindfully designed to encourage, nurture and develop aspiring professional riders. 

In total, 36 riders across both disciplines attended the event, with the 23 road racing youngsters heading to the Circuito d’Alcarrás, while the motocross talents took to the Circuito MX El Terrè Almenar. During the event, they received world-class coaching by the bLU cRU Ambassadors; Yamaha Rider Coach and Endurance World Championship racer Niccolò Canepa, FIM Superbike World Championship rider Andrea Locatelli, former MXGP star Brian Jorgensen, and bLU cRU and FIM Supersport World Championship rider Unai Orradre.

At the Masterclass, the Yamaha Motor Europe representatives had the chance to observe the promising riders for more than just their talent and flair on a motorcycle. Afterwards, they assessed the youngsters and selected those that had impressed them most, based on their performances, dedication to learn and their attitude off-track.

Following a successful display of speed, skill and determination, paired with a fantastic attitude off the track at the 2021 bLU cRU Masterclass in Spain earlier this month, Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to announce the three winners of the YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup and the two riders who will benefit from support in next year’s Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup.

The winner of the YZ125 category is 16-year-old Frenchman Adrien Petit, who earns a place in the Yamaha bLU cRU Team by Aussio, where he will contest the 2022 EMX125 Championship aboard a GYTR kitted YZ125. Elsewhere, 13-year-old Swiss rider Noe Zumstein has been selected as the winner in the YZ85 division, while 11-year-old Dane Bertram Thorius was awarded the top spot in the YZ65 class. Both Zumstein and Bertram will benefit from additional Yamaha support for their 2022 seasons. 

Of the 21 road racing entries, the two winners were 18-year-old Spanish rider Yerai Ruiz and 17-year-old Italian Andrea Pizzoli. Both will receive a supported entry into the 2022 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup, a championship that debuted this season supporting the FIM Superbike World Championship, in which the overall winner will earn a spot on the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship grid as part of Yamaha’s bLU cRU program. 

The Masterclass took place just outside of Barcelona, Spain, in Alcarrás, bringing together a group of bright young Yamaha Racing talents from both on and off-road racing disciplines. The event ran to a schedule that has been mindfully designed to encourage, nurture and develop aspiring professional riders. 

In total, 36 riders across both disciplines attended the event, with the 23 road racing youngsters heading to the Circuito d’Alcarrás, while the motocross talents took to the Circuito MX El Terrè Almenar. During the event, they received world-class coaching by the bLU cRU Ambassadors; Yamaha Rider Coach and Endurance World Championship racer Niccolò Canepa, FIM Superbike World Championship rider Andrea Locatelli, former MXGP star Brian Jorgensen, and bLU cRU and FIM Supersport World Championship rider Unai Orradre.

At the Masterclass, the Yamaha Motor Europe representatives had the chance to observe the promising riders for more than just their talent and flair on a motorcycle. Afterwards, they assessed the youngsters and selected those that had impressed them most, based on their performances, dedication to learn and their attitude off-track.

Photo Copyright: Yamaha Racing

Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2022 YZ125, YZ85 and YZ65 bLU cRU FIM Europe Cups. A program in which participants can compete for one of 120 places on the gate at the YZ bLU cRU Superfinale, which in 2022 will take place at the final round of the FIM Motocross World Championship. 

In addition to the once-in-a-lifetime experience on offer, one rider in each YZ cup class will receive valuable support from Yamaha Motor Europe in 2023.  

Since 2015, the YZ125 bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup Superfinale has been the best event for young motocross riders to find their feet in the world of professional racing, and it is an opportunity that successfully extended to YZ85 and YZ65 riders in 2019.

The YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup program is open to riders that ride either a YZ125, YZ85 or YZ65 in one of the approved national championships. Throughout the season, riders will accumulate bLU cRU points. The best 40 in each class will be invited to race the bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale, which is expected to take place at the final round of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship.

At the Superfinale, the top three riders from each class, along with two carefully selected wild card riders from each category, will receive an invite to the bLU cRU Masterclass, which takes place at the end of the season. 

The Masterclass is an event specifically designed to give young riders a taste of what the racing world can throw at them. It is also a place for aspiring riders to receive expert tuition and advice from Yamaha Racing’s bLU cRU ambassadors. At the end of the Masterclass, which takes place over three days, one YZ125 rider will be chosen to join a Yamaha supported EMX125 Team where he or she will contest the EMX125 Championship in 2023, while the YZ65 and YZ85 winners will receive additional support from Yamaha for their next season.

For riders that want their best shot at taking their riding to the next level, now is the time to enter. Follow the instructions at the following link and sign up as soon as possible. Entries will close 28 February 2022.

Click here to sign up for the 2022 YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup.

After an action-packed season of national level racing, 101 of Europe's top performing YZ 125cc, 85cc and 65cc riders are about to embark on the biggest race of their budding careers. Coming from 22 different nations, the promising young riders that have made the cut are heading straight for the 2021 YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale which will take place this weekend at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations in Mantova, Italy.

This year marks the fifth edition of the YZ125 bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup, and second edition of the YZ85 and YZ65 bLU cRU FIM Europe Cups, after the 2020 edition was regrettably cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. After a years’ hiatus, the greatly anticipated SuperFinale in Mantova this weekend will see 30 YZ125 riders, 33 YZ85 riders and 38 YZ65 riders race for an invite to the bLU cRU Masterclass that is expected to place in Spain in November. The official date and location is still to be confirmed.

At the SuperFinale, the top three finishers and two promising wildcard riders from each class will move on to take part in a unique Yamaha bLU cRU Masterclass.

At the Masterclass, one promising rider will win the ultimate prize where he or she will be picked to receive support in their quests to contest the European Championship. For the winner of the YZ125 bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup, he or she will join a Yamaha supported EMX125 team, while the EMX85 and EMX65 riders will receive added support from Yamaha Motor Europe for their 2022 seasons.

The YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale is all about giving talented youngsters an opportunity to take a small step towards an eventual career in Grand Prix racing. It is designed to work as a bridge between national and international level racing by offering kids a chance to race alongside their heroes at the biggest and most watched event of the season. This years' YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale will be free to view LIVE on www.MXGP-TV.com. The YZ65 and YZ85 bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup Superfinale’s will take place on Saturday 25th September, while the YZ125 Superfinale will take place on Sunday 26th.