World's fastest female motocrosser joins Yamaha for 2008
Yamaha Motor Europe (YME) is very pleased to announce a new partnership with current FIM Motocross Women's World Cup winner Katherine Prumm. The 19 year old New Zealander will steer a YZ250F for 2008 and strive to add the very first FIM female world championship to the two World cup titles she claimed in 2006 and 2007.Prumm's union with Yamaha four months ahead of the inaugural FIM endorsed championship is a major coup as the women's competition will enjoy top billing alongside the MX1 and MX2 world series and embark on a five round schedule as part of the 2008 Grand Prix campaign.
The Kiwi will work from the Dutch Van Beers Yamaha set-up in the paddock, alongside Aigar Leok (MX1) and Evgeny Bobryshev (MX2), using YRRD (Yamaha Rinaldi Research and Development) parts on her number one plated YZ250F.
With her victories in Europe, (two from two rounds in 2006 and two from three outings in 2007) numerous female Australasian titles, and several female AMA wins on the other side of the Atlantic, Prumm is presently one of the leading figures in Women's motocross.
"The move to Yamaha is really exciting for me," said the reigning champ. "It will be a whole new bike and new team and I am really looking forward to being part of the Yamaha environment. Yamaha is behind me 100% and I feel that they can give me the best chance of success in 2008."
"I cannot wait for the upcoming season and the FIM Women's World Championship where I will try for my third title on my new Van Beers YZ250F," she added. "At the end of the year I will also compete in the Men's New Zealand Motocross Championship under the MXDK Subway Yamaha team banner and my goal is a top ten finish in the Men's MX2 class after having attained a 12th place in 2007. I will also be going for my fourth New Zealand Women's championship. For my activities back home I am officially supported by Yamaha Motor Australia and Yamaha Motor New Zealand."
"Yamaha is happy to see that the number of women riding and racing our machines is growing along with their interest and participation in off-road motorsport," commented YME Racing Division Manager Laurens Klein Koerkamp. "The upgrade of the FIM Women's World Cup to a World Championship is a good example of how the sport is progressing and we are very much looking forward to competing in this new class with Katherine as well as promoting women and motorcycling in general."
The Women's World Championship was officially sanctioned towards the end of 2007 after the World Cup had seen growing entry lists in its three year existence and an increasing level of interest from female competitors across the globe. The series now has the recognition it deserves and is no longer merely a sideshow to the MX1 and MX2 motos.
The 2008 calendar will see the ladies in action in Bulgaria, Italy, France, Germany and Holland. The first event will be at the Sevlievo circuit for the Grand Prix of Bulgaria on May 11th.
