MOTOCROSS 1

Press Release: 8-24-2006

Yamaha will compete in the 2007 and 2008 AMA supercross championship with the newly formed L&M Racing team, which will feature former champion and current Yamaha factory racer Chad Reed alongside Nathan Ramsey, a former champion in the Lites category. Both will ride Yamaha's well-proven YZ450F.

Team manager Larry Brooks has the experience, credentials and top racing talent enabling L&M Racing to be competitive right out of the gate. A former factory racer and team manager for the Chaparral Yamaha team, Brooks was a key component in Jeremy McGrath's three-year supercross championship reign; the first and, so far, only non-factory team to win an AMA supercross championship.

"We have the utmost confidence in Larry Brooks, Reed and Ramsey and feel this team will further promote the Yamaha brand," explains Yamaha Racing Division Manager, Keith McCarty. "It's another step in the right direction for motocross and we are confident L&M Racing will attract additional outside sponsors that, in turn, will create more interest and visibility for our sport."

Reed has withdrawn from the final rounds of the 2006 AMA motocross championship in a bid to be fully fit for the start of the supercross season. The Australian suffered a dislocated shoulder at the Millville round and has undergone surgery to repair the injury.

"It's always difficult to lose a rider of that calibre in the middle of the season. Reed has soldiered on through the pain this year with other nagging injuries consistently finishing on the podium. For this injury, doctors have determined the only course of action is immediate surgery," explains Yamaha Team Manager, Jim Perry. "We will miss his energy and leadership in the pits and are hopeful he can return with plenty of time to test the 2007 YZ with his new L&M team prior to next year's supercross season."

Yamaha US has also signed promising youngster Josh Hill to compete in the Lites category of next year's supercross championship onboard a Yamaha YZ250F. With a number of amateur championships to his name, Yamaha's top prospect has joined the professional ranks and will also compete in the remaining rounds of this year's AMA motocross championship.

"I am looking forward to my first professional race and my goal is simply to gain experience," he said. "I'll need to adjust to the higher level of talent and be able to ride that speed for twice as long as any moto I've ever race. I'm fortunate my amateur career ended on a positive note but I won't celebrate. Yamaha is allowing me to ride the nationals and I want to take advantage of that opportunity."

"We are looking forward to having a YZ250F racer in the factory semi", added Yamaha team manager Jim Perry. "Yamaha won several Lites titles with Kevin Windham and John Dowd, and hope Josh will bring many more. He is a great, hard working kid with a bright future and we look forward to seeing his YZ250F on many podiums."