The Yamaha Motocross Team has agreed with the Italian star rider David Philippaerts to ride their factory YZ450FM in the MX1 world championship for 2008 and 2009.

Next year David will race alongside present MX1 world championship leader Joshua Coppins to defend the Yamaha Motocross Team’s leading position in the premier motocross class, mixing Coppins’ vast MX1 GP winning experience with Philippaerts’ youthful aggression and future promise. Yamaha are still discussing with current Yamaha Motocross Team rider Marc de Reuver about the continuation of their relationship.

Before his rise to GP stardom Philippaerts was racing with Yamaha machinery and the guidance of 1999 Yamaha MX500 world champion Andrea Bartolini, who now currently is test rider for the Yamaha Motocross Team. In 2004 David made his fulltime debut in the MX2 class finishing his first year 19th overall. The following year his progress was quick and impressive, winning his first GP in France (round nine), followed by a further win in South Africa. Last season David’s results further improved and he finished third overall, adding four more MX2 GP victories achieved in Bulgaria, Italy, UK and the Czech Republic to his tally.

In 2007 Philippaerts made a very successful switch to MX1 and currently holds fourth position overall, the result of three GP podiums including one win at Teutschenthal, Germany.

Source: Yamaha Racing