Yamaha's New YZ 250F Goes 1-1 in Debut

Yamaha made waves earlier this year with their announcement that they were going to produce a titanium valve 250cc four-stroke motocross weapon, the YZ250F. Then they announced that the bike would debut in an overseas race before the start of the AMA Supercross season.

This past weekend was that race, and just as Yamaha had hoped, the YZ250F -- piloted by Ernesto Fonseca -- landed atop the podium with the entire field behind them.


The official Yamaha press release follows:

CYPRESS, California, (October 23, 2000)-Yamaha of Troy's Ernesto Fonseca debuted Yamaha's ground-breaking YZ 250F in convincing fashion on Sunday, October 22nd. Fonseca won the overall at the final round of the All Japan Motocross Championship by dominating both motos en route to 1-1 finishes.

When the gate dropped for the first moto, Fonseca's YZ 250F rocketed to the first turn with a two-bike-length holeshot. A great, yet short lived battle ensued as Fonseca navigated his way around the muddy H.A.R.P circuit. Once Fonseca learned the best lines, the moto was his to the checkered flag with a 10-second margin of victory.

Moto Two had Team Yamaha of Troy, Team Yamaha and Mr. Nakayama (YZ 250F Project Leader) brimming with pride as Fonseca once again holeshot the race and ran away from the pack-extending his lead to over 20 seconds at the checkered flag.

"I was a bit nervous before the first moto," explained Fonseca. "I know how hard everyone worked on this machine and it was important for me to win both motos today. Now that I've ridden the 250F in race conditions I am even more confident going into the first Supercross round at Anahiem Stadium. The bike is just awesome!"

"Whenever you travel to a foreign country you never know who your competition will be or how you're going to set up the machine for that track," explains Team Yamaha Racing Manager Keith McCarty. "We basically only had a day and half of testing, but Ernesto went out there on an essentially bone-stock machine (editor note: different triple clamps and handlebars) and showed, with a dominating performance today, that he is ready for the Supercross series."

Fonseca will pilot his 2001 YZ250F four-stroke in the AMA 125cc West Supercross and 125 National series in 2001.