The start of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is getting closer, and more teams are launching their challengers for this season. The latest is the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team which unveiled its Yamaha YZF-R1 machine at the iconic Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, as they look to add race wins to an already vast success inside the WorldSBK paddock. GRT Yamaha are one of the few teams to have an unchanged line-up in 2024, with Dominique Aegerter and Remy Gardner leading their charge.
Both Aegerter and Gardner impressed in their rookie seasons, culminating in the team taking podiums at Jerez in the season finale because of Aegerter while Gardner was just behind. Throughout testing, Gardner has been rapid at both Jerez and Portimao as he gears up for a second season while double WorldSSP Champion Aegerter is heading into the season on the backfoot, having missed both 2024 tests through illness.
While Gardner has taken up the bulk of the team’s testing programme, GRT Yamaha will be optimistic heading into 2024 with the #87 alongside Aegerter. The latter was on the front row three times last year, and finished with two podiums, while Australian star Gardner took a front row at Most and had a best finish of fourth on two occasions to give the 2021 Moto2™ Champion a solid platform heading into his second season.
Speaking at the team’s launch, Gardner said: “We had a positive debut season, we kept progressing each round and understanding each other. I am confident we could have a strong 2024 together, we also had some productive test sessions throughout the winter. The goal is to stay regularly in the front places and improving every round, with the target of enjoying my career-first WorldSBK podium.”
Aegerter added: “I cannot wait to begin the 2024 season! Unfortunately, I was not able to take part at the test we had in January as I’m still recovering from the viral infection, but I am keen to enjoy the first round in Phillip Island. Last year we finished the Championship on a high note, the target is to keep improving and fight consistently for the front positions. I would like to be on the podium once again during the season and try to win my first WorldSBK race.”
Team Manager Filippo Conti outlined the team’s goals for 2024, saying: “We are all excited for a thrilling 2024 WorldSBK Season. Having Dominique and Remy with us for another season means we can keep progressing and pick up where we left off last season. Both had a positive rookie season, finishing the season on a very high, which give us a lot of confidence for the upcoming Championship, where we would like to fight regularly for the front places. I want to thank Yamaha for the great support they give us every year. In the same way, I’m keen to thank all the partners who will support us once again, as well as I’m delighted to welcome the new ones who will be crucial to the team’s results.”
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Source: WorldSBK.com