Five new protégées have travelled to Cattolica, Italy, for the eighth edition of the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp training programme, arranged for by nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd, the VR46 Riders Academy, and various racing experts.

For the upcoming event, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and the VR46 Riders Academy are excited to welcome four Asian riders and one Canadian rider, all showing great talent.

Yamaha Motor Thailand‘s Sawapol Nillapong (16) and Suttipat Patchareetorn (18), Yamaha Motor Malaysia‘s Muhammad Alif Ashraf Bin Tahiruddin (16), Yamaha Motor Philippines‘ McKinley Kyle Paz (18), and Yamaha Motor Canada‘s Jake LeClair (18) completed the mandatory medical check-up and traditional Master Camp intake ceremony yesterday.

It was quite the event, as for the very first time the programme welcomed two VIPs at the camp: Mr. Tanaisiri Chanvitayarom, Managing Director of the Buriram United International Circuit, and Mr. Opaskornkul Theerapong, Thai Yamaha Motor‘s Motorsport Manager.

After the warm welcome by Yamaha Motor Racing’s Marketing & Communications Manager, William Favero, and the Master Camp staff, and after their Master Camp gear fitting session, the riders are raring to start their five-day training programme (watch the Day 0 review video HERE).

Based on the previous seven editions, the itinerary for this week‘s event has been structured in such a way that it will allow the new students to gain valuable skills in various racing disciplines with the help of specialised coaches, including the VR46 Academy riders and multiple-time flat track champion Marco Belli, fitness trainer Carlo Casabianca, and legendary Italian surfer Alessandro Marcianò.

VR46 Riders Academy Director Alessio ’Uccio‘ Salucci commented:

“Yesterday we met the eighth edition’s Yamaha VR46 Master Camp group, and we are looking forward to starting the training programme. These five riders are all very excited to be here and we have high expectations.

“The level of the Master Camp programme has been raised every time we put on the event, since the start in 2016. We know from previous series which activities and skills are the most beneficial to the riders and are easy to implement in their training routines at home. It will be hard work for them the next five days, because the road to success isn‘t easy, but it will also be a lot of fun, and the VR46 riders and the coaches are here to help the riders wherever they can.

“We hope that, with a bit of our help this week, the students will be feeling confident to make the next step in their racing careers and follow in the footsteps of former Master Camp riders who are currently enjoying success in their respective championships.”

Those eager to know more and curious about the goings on at the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp can easily stay up to date. News, images, videos and updates from the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp will be posted regularly on its dedicated media channels throughout the eighth edition:

Yamaha VR46 Master Camp website
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP website
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