UK bLU cRU
R3 CHALLENGE UK
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WELCOME TO bLU cRU
Are you an aspiring racer looking to reach the next level? Then look no further, take that next step with one of the most iconic brands in the history of two-wheel motorsport with Yamaha’s bLU cRU programme.
Racing has been in Yamaha Motor’s DNA since the company was founded in 1955 and you can start writing your own chapter of Yamaha Racing history, by joining bLU cRU – a programme designed to take the brightest young talent in both on and off-road motorsport to the next level with the support of one of the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers.
Think you’re the next Fabio Quartararo or Toprak Razgatlioglu? Sign up for the bLU cRU R3 Challenge UK now!
WHY CHOOSE YAMAHA? 6 YAMAHA RACING PYRAMID 8 HOW IT WORKS 10 YAMAHA R3 12 BRITISH JUNIOR SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP 14 WHAT YOU RECEIVE 16 Paddock Blue racewear Professional advice & support Yamaha human performance McAMS Yamaha team catering Social media exposure Discounts 2023 bLU cRU SUPERFINALE 20 R3 bLU cRU EUROPEAN CUP 22 ELIGIBILITY 25 HOW TO APPLY 26 MORE INFORMATION 28 CONTENTS
WHY CHOOSE YAMAHA?
Yamaha Motor won its first race just one week after the company was founded and ever since then we’ve been a constant force in both on and off-road motorcycle racing.
Yamaha’s bLU cRU programme, first launched in 2015, is a platform to support the next generation of young riding talent to take the next steps towards a professional career in both.
The programme creates a professional environment that is used to encourage, nurture and build tomorrow’s racing stars through the guidance and unparalleled experience of the Yamaha Racing world.
The Yamaha bLU cRU R3 Challenge UK offers a perfect entry point to Yamaha’s racing pyramid, which begins at the grass roots, local level and ends at the premier Grand Prix stage.
It is open to any Yamaha R3 rider competing in the HEL Performance British Junior Supersport Championship, which runs alongside the prestigious Bennetts British Superbike Championship. The bLU cRU R3 Challenge UK provides an opportunity for young racers to showcase their calibre with the support of Yamaha’s championshipwinning Superbike and Supersport teams.
The top R3 rider in the championship, based on final championship positions, will be invited to show their skill at the bLU cRU R3 SuperFinale. This will take place alongside a round of the FIM Superbike World Championship in either September or October 2023 and offers the best two riders from the event the opportunity to join the bLU cRU R3 European Cup grid on a full-time basis.
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The Yamaha Racing pyramid offers aspiring young racers progression opportunities all the way through the ranks, from grassroots to professional levels of motorsport.
In road racing, the pyramid starts with the bLU cRU R3 Challenge UK in the Junior Supersport Championship and progresses all the way through the ranks, via different paths, to the World Superbike Championship and ultimately MotoGP.
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PYRAMID BSB BSS Junior Superstock Junior Supersport R7 Series European SuperFinale bLU cRU R3 Challenge | UK Local championships Riding schools Track days R3 bLU cRU Championship bLU cRU Cup WorldSBK Endurance World Championship WorldSSP WorldSSP300 MotoGP
YAMAHA RACING
GLOBAL
WORLD
EUROPEAN NATIONAL LOCAL
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Purchase an R3 from your local Yamaha dealer (GYTR Pro Shops can provide a race-ready option) Register to compete in the HEL Performance Junior Supersport Championship with MSVR Apply to participate in the bLU cRU programme Make use of bLU cRU benefits in 2023
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HOW IT WORKS
The bLU cRU R3 Challenge UK is open to anyone racing a Yamaha R3 in the HEL Performance British Junior Supersport class. However, registration is not automatic, and participants must meet the entry requirements to apply onto the programme.
Riders in the UK bLU cRU programme will receive support from Yamaha Motor UK, which includes technical support from McAMS Yamaha, Paddock Blue race wear, weekend team catering, guidance and support from the official Yamaha rider ambassadors.
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placed Yamaha R3 rider from the championship invited to bLU cRU SuperFinale
The best two riders from the SuperFinale get selected for supported bLU cRU R3 European Cup ride
YAMAHA R3
Driven by a high-revving 321cc engine, the R3 comes fully equipped with a range of key features to give outstanding performance. Its slim and athletic bodywork is inspired by Yamaha’s iconic YZR-M1 MotoGP machine.
GYTR Performance packages are available to build the R3 into a World Supersport 300 specification machine from GYTR Pro Shops:
• Crescent Motorcycles (PATA Yamaha WorldSBK)
• Padgetts Motorcycles
• Raceways Motorcycles (McAMS Yamaha British Superbike Team)
• Tamworth Motorcycles
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PERFORMANCE BRITISH JUNIOR SUPERSPORT
Social media following: 635,000 Average event TV audience: 825,000 with peaks of over 1 million viewers 20-50k in person event attendance
The 2023 HEL Performance British Junior Supersport Championship
be held over eight events, each featuring two races There is huge exposure from the Bennetts British Superbike Championship. HEL
CHAMPIONSHIP
Silverstone National
7th – 9th April
Donington Park GP
19th – 21st May
Knockhill
16th – 18th June
Donington Park GP (WSBK)
30th June – 2nd July
Snetterton 300
7th – 9th July
Brands Hatch GP
21st – 23rd July
Oulton Park
15th – 17th September
Donington Park National
29th September – 1st October
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WHAT YOU RECEIVE
PADDOCK BLUE RACEWEAR
As part of your Welcome Pack, you will receive a selection of official Yamaha Paddock Blue Racewear worth over £200, so you can look like a factory Yamaha racer!
Included in the pack is:
• 2x Paddock Blue T-Shirts
• 1x Paddock Blue Hoody
• 1x Paddock Blue Race Umbrella
• 1x Paddock Blue Cap
• 1x Paddock Blue Backpack
PROFESSIONAL ADVICE & SUPPORT
You’ll receive access to on-site technical support from our official British Superbike team, McAMS Yamaha. This includes access to experienced electronics engineers plus the team’s other expert technicians.
McAMS YAMAHA TEAM CATERING
As part of the bLU cRU programme, each bLU cRU rider is invited to eat in the official McAMS Yamaha Hospitality suite with x1 other team member. Additional spaces are available at a special rate.
SOCIAL MEDIA EXPOSURE
There is the chance to be featured on the official Yamaha Racing UK social media platforms, offering further exposure for yourself and your sponsors, to an audience of over 200,000 in the UK and six million globally.
DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
A bLU cRU discount is available on selected parts from participating Yamaha GYTR Pro Shops and dealerships.
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2023 R3 bLU cRU SUPERFINALE
The highest placed R3 rider in the bLU cRU R3 Challenge UK, based on championship position, will be invited to participate on an allexpenses paid ticket to the R3 bLU cRU SuperFinale, which will take place alongside a European World Superbike event.
The SuperFinale will see the best riders from across the globe race head-to-head over two races in front of the Superbike World Championship paddock on identical specification R3 race bikes. Full support is provided
• Dedicated R3 SuperFinale village inside the WorldSBK Paddock
• Race ready YamahaR3 with GYTR kit supplied
• Coaching and technical assistance
• All race equipment – tyre warmers, fuel etc
• Paddock Blue clothing
The overall winner and an additional rider selected on merit, will be selected to participate full time in the following year’s R3 bLU cRU European Cup, a package worth €30,000 (rider pays travel and accommodation costs).
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R3 bLU cRU EUROPEAN CUP
The Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup is a race series that runs along selected European World Superbike events with riders from across Europe aged between 14 and 20. It’s been designed as an ideal first step on the European stage for young riders with World Championship aspirations.
The overall winner is rewarded with a Yamaha-supported ride in the ultra-competitive FIM Supersport 300 World Championship, while five riders will also earn an invitation to the exclusive VR46 Mastercamp to receive training from the academy initiated by none other than nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi.
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ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for the bLU cRU programme in the UK, riders must be aged between 14 and 18 years as of September 2023.
Additionally, riders should run their R3 at the championship in the official Yamaha blue colour scheme and follow official Yamaha bLU cRU Challenge branding guideline design for the Yamaha logo positions.
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HOW TO APPLY
STEP 1
Register and enter the Junior Supersport Championship directly with the MSVR.
STEP 2
Fill in the online bLU cRU registration form. Once registration has been completed, checked and accepted, you will be welcomed to Yamaha’s youth talent development programme and receive the official bLU cRU Challenge UK welcome pack.
STEP 3
If you are the highest place R3 rider in the championship at the end of the season, youq will be invited to the SuperFinale (ensuring you are eligible to attend).
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MORE INFORMATION
For more information about our bLU cRU programme, advice or logos for the R3, please contact: bLUcRU@yamaha-motor.co.uk or visit our website at www.yamaha-racing.com
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