Yamaha Motor Finance (YMF) has confirmed its return as naming rights sponsor of the Australian Superbike Championship, it was announced today.

The 2007 YMF Loan Australian Superbike Championship is shaping up to be one of the most hotly-contested seasons of motorcycle racing ever seen, following a year of exceptionally close racing experienced by tens of thousands of fans across all states and a broad television audience.

YMF Loan – Yamaha Motor Australia’s automated online finance program – has played an integral part in the growth of the premier motorcycling series for a number of years, providing racers of all levels with the chance to showcase their skills at the nation’s top racing circuits.

Yamaha Motor Australia Managing Director, Steven Cotterell said the Australian Superbike Championship had continued to prove a valuable marketing platform for the manufacturer’s finance subsidiary and was delighted to announce its return as naming rights sponsor for 2007.

“We are very pleased to continue our relationship with the Australian Superbike Championship in 2007 in the form of naming rights sponsor,” said Cotterell.

“The series has undergone significant growth in the past few years, with crowd and entrant numbers as well as television audience figures rising steadily.”

“The level of competition that we are seeing in the premier Superbike and Supersport categories is nothing short of amazing, and definitely on par with anything we see on the world stage.”

“For 2007 we are also introducing the Yamaha FZ6 Cup, an entry level one model race series that we hope will attract first time road racers to the sport and witness some spectacularly close racing,” Cotterell added.

Australasian Superbike Company (AUSCO) Director and Promoter of the Australian Superbike Championship, Terry O’Neill welcomed the return of the innovative finance program sponsorship and hoped to further build on the valuable relationship across the course of next season.

“Yamaha Motor Australia has provided strong support for the Australian Superbike Championship for many years, and we look forward to another fantastic season with Yamaha Motor Finance as our naming rights sponsor,” said O’Neill.

“Australia’s Superbike and Supersport classes are widely regarded as containing a diverse depth of talent from an international perspective, and these riders are able to showcase their skills and professionalism thanks to Yamaha Motor Finance’s continued contribution towards the series.”

“We are pleased that Yamaha Motor Finance will join us in 2007 as we embark on a new journey, with an extra round added to the calendar as well as the feature double-header rounds which are certainly creating a buzz.”

The 2007 YMF Loan Australian Superbike Championship calendar is as follows:

Round 1. 16-18 February, Eastern Creek International Raceway, NSW.
Round 2/3. 22-25 March, Winton Motor Raceway, VIC.
Round 4. 20-22 April, Mallala Motorsport Park, SA.
Round 5. 18-20 May, Symmons Plains Raceway, TAS.
Round 6/7. 28 June-1 July, Queensland Raceway, QLD.
Round 8. 17-19 August, Eastern Creek International Raceway, NSW. (Grand Final)