Yamaha Opens 2017 BLU CRU Road Racing Contingency Registration

Cypress, CA - February 1, 2017

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., is proud to announce that its bLU cRU Road Racing Contingency Program returns for 2017 with several new enhancements, including an expanded Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Challenge as part of the WERA motorcycle roadracing series.

"For 2017, the Yamaha bLU cRU Road Racing Contingency Program has increased by $50,000 over last year," commented Keith McCarty, Motorsports Racing Division Manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. "Yamaha is deeply committed to supporting road racers who compete aboard our highly successful YZF-R1, YZF-R6, and YZF-R3 motorcycles. The Yamaha bLU cRU continues to grow every year, and we're pleased to be able to provide those racers with Contingency support. The legendary R6 has been redesigned for 2017, and we are especially looking forward to seeing bLU cRU racers compete aboard that new machine with support from Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A."

We're also very excited about this year's Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Challenge. The Challenge was a big success last year, and for 2017, we've expanded the Challenge to include 26 regional WERA races, encompassing 13 racetracks in 9 states."

For 2017, Yamaha R1 Superbike riders competing in the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Race Championship are eligible for Contingency support when they cross the finish line in the top five of the class. The MotoAmerica Superbike payout structure is $5,000/$4,000/$3,000/$2,000/$1,000 for R1 Superbike riders, which amounts to $300,000 available to R1 Superbike riders for the full MotoAmerica season, along with an additional $192,500 available to Yamaha bLU cRU riders competing in the MotoAmerica Superstock 1000, Supersport, and Superstock 600 classes, collectively.

Yamaha will also provide Contingency support for bLU cRU riders who compete in the 76th running of the Daytona 200, which will take place in March. The top-three Daytona 200 finishers, if aboard qualifying Yamahas, are eligible for a total of $17,500 in bLU cRU Contingency support, including the winner of the Daytona 200, who can earn $10,000 in bLU cRU support if aboard a Yamaha.

In addition, another $259,000 will be available to Yamaha bLU cRU riders at a variety of national and regional sprint road races across the country.

"Yamaha bLU cRU Road Racing Contingency registration numbers were up 71% in 2016," Mike Guerra, Racing Department Manager for Yamaha, said. "Registrations have grown every year since the establishment of our bLU cRU Road Racing Contingency Program, and we expect a record number of Yamaha bLU cRU riders to sign up for the program this year, too, particularly with the expansion of the Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Challenge."

All bLU cRU contingency earnings will, once again, be paid directly to the riders' reloadable bLU cRU VISA Debit Cards, and each bLU cRU rider will receive a $45 credit on www.bLUcRUswag.com, where they can purchase bLU cRU apparel and merchandise, as well as a 10% rebate on "Graves Motorsports" and "GYT-R" parts and accessories.

For complete details on how to register for the bLU cRU Road Racing Contingency Program, along with specific information on which racing series, events, and classes are included, and additional information on the Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Challenge, visit the Road Racing Contingency page on the Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., Website at yamahamotorsports.com/sport/pages/yamaha-road-race-contingency-program

Yamaha Again Partners With WERA, Expands Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Challenge For 2017

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., is continuing its marketing partnership with WERA Motorcycle Roadracing for the 2017 road racing season. As part of the agreement, Yamaha R3 Expert and Novice road racers have the opportunity to compete in the Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Challenge Race--exclusively for Yamaha R3 riders-- which will be held at the prestigious WERA Grand National Finals (GNF) on November 2-5, 2017, at Barber Motorsports Park.

At the GNF, the winner of the Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Challenge Race--in the Expert class--will be awarded a brand-new 2017 Yamaha R6. Other R3 Challenge Race podium-finishing riders--in both the Expert and Novice classes--will be awarded prizes that include TrackSkinz racing leathers and Yamaha Generators. Additional prizes and details will be announced soon.

To be eligible for a grid position at the GNF's Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Challenge Race, R3 racers must qualify by competing in any two WERA E-Superstock races during the 2017 road racing season. Grid positions for the Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Challenge Race at the GNF will be determined by points accumulated at any 2017 WERA "E-Superstock" races.

To further support the Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Challenge, Yamaha is offering bLU cRU Contingency Support to Expert-class R3 racers at 26 WERA events in 2017, and eligible models have been expanded to include 2015-and-newer R3 motorcycles purchased in the U.S.

"We're honored to be able to grow our relationship with Yamaha for 2017 and host this great Challenge," said Evelyne Clarke, CEO of WERA. "The Yamaha R3 is a great machine on which to start a motorcycle road racing career, and we urge new riders to check out the machine and come in on a motorcycle that is built for racing, carries contingency support, and qualifies for an awesome final at the WERA GNF this November. This is a great opportunity to learn and grow in this sport."

Steve Liberatore, Yamaha's South East Regional Business Manager, added, "We're excited to once again partner with WERA and expand the Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Challenge for 2017. The Yamaha R3 has proven to be the perfect platform not only for young racers to enter the sport, but also for experienced racers to add another race class to their program and hone their skills. At the 2016 GNF, Jackson Blackmon of Rock Hill, SC, won the R3 Challenge race at the WERA GNF, and he took home the awesome Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha R3 that was last year's Grand Prize. This year, the competition should really heat up with the increased rounds of Contingency and the announcement that this year's Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Challenge race winner will receive a brand-new 2017 R6 as the Grand Prize."

Chaparral Motorsports is an authorized Yamaha dealer