'It is a big announcement for my career' - Rinaldi switches to Supersport for 2025
11/07/2024 07:26 AM
Michael Ruben Rinaldi will race in World Supersport with GMT94 Yamaha in 2025.
After seven years in the World Superbike Championship, Michael Ruben Rinaldi will drop down to the World Supersport class.
The Italian will join the GMT94 Yamaha Team in Supersport on the new Yamaha R9. Rinaldi will change his allegiance from Ducati to Yamaha in 2025 after riding for the Italian manufacturer since 2018.
Rinaldi was present at EICMA in Miland where he discussed his 2025 deal with WorldSBK.com.
"Today is a big announcement for my career," Rinaldi said. "Because after many years in World Superbikes with Ducati it is time for a new chapter in my life. It will be a new chapter with Yamaha, I will be a Yamaha rider inside Team GMT94. The project is new, the bike is new, and I decided to accept this challenge because I believe that Yamaha has arrived to battle with Ducati.
"They have decided to replace the R6 with the R9, and since the first meeting I have felt their will to win and I accepted the challenge. For sure I cannot wait to jump on the bike and see what it is like."
Rinaldi went on to explain that he is excited to join this new project with the new Yamaha R9. The Italian rider also believes that he will not have to change his style too much from how he rode a Superbike.
"The work they have done is to catch the other manufacturers," Rinaldi explained. "But also I spoke with Niccolo (Canepa) and we think coming from Superbike I will not have to adapt my riding style too much."
The new Yamaha R9 Supersport riders will be on track in Cremona for a pre-season test. However, Rinaldi will not be present due to Ducati not releasing him from his contract in time to let him test the R9.
Rinaldi said: "This is the plan but actually we did not find an agreement with my old team, so I cannot ride the bike until next year."
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