The long-standing partnership between Yamaha and Ten Kate has officially come to an end, bringing a close to one of the most successful collaborations in the paddock. Following this departure, reports indicate that the Dutch stalwart squad is set to make a high-profile switch to Chinese manufacturer QJ Motor ahead of the 2027 racing season.
Ten Kate historically carved its legendary status through an immense run of success with Honda, capturing nine World Supersport titles between 2002 and 2014 utilizing the iconic CBR600RR machine. It was also alongside Honda that the team secured its sole premier-class WorldSBK crown back in 2007, courtesy of British rider James Toseland aboard the CBR1000RR.
After Honda established its own factory team setup for the 2020 campaign, leaving the Dutch outfit without manufacturer support, Ten Kate pivoted toward Yamaha in 2019. That initial transition featured a sole WorldSBK entry for Loris Baz, before the partnership swiftly transitioned into a dominant force in the World Supersport category.
The collaborative effort yielded consecutive WorldSSP championships with Dominique Aegerter in 2021 and 2022, followed by a third title secured during the debut year of the YZF-R9 platform. Although the R9 machinery continued winning this season via AS Racing's Albert Arenas, Ten Kate experienced a tougher campaign with its own rider finishing fourth in the final standings.
Confirming the separation, Yamaha Motor Europe's motorsport division manager Andrea Dosoli expressed gratitude for the team's immense contributions over nearly a decade. "We would like to thank Ten Kate for everything over the past eight seasons," said Andrea Dosoli. "Their record in the Supersport World Championship spoke for itself before they joined Yamaha in 2019, and adding three World Championship titles to the tally has contributed towards Yamaha becoming the most successful manufacturer in WorldSSP history. We are disappointed to see them choose a new direction for 2027 but must thank Ronald and Gerrit Ten Kate and their team for all their efforts over the past eight years."
Moving forward, partnering with Ten Kate places QJ Motor's program into the hands of the most successful structure in World Supersport history, though substantial technical development remains required for their SRK800RS machine to fight consistently at the front.
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