Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and the VR46 Riders Academy once again come together in Tavullia to collaborate on their shared young talent training programme. The 12th Yamaha VR46 Master Camp, held from 19 - 25 May 2023, is one day longer than the usual format and will be attended by two European, one Latin American, and three Asian 2023 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Championship participants.
Tavullia (Italy), 13th May 2023
The Yamaha VR46 Master Camp training programme is back for its twelfth edition from 19 - 25 May 2023, again staged at Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Motor Ranch and several other VR46 Rider Academy training locations.

As the twelfth edition is the only Master Camp training week scheduled for 2023, Yamaha and VR46 have opted to make this training camp especially intense: adding an extra day and allowing an extra participant to join the once-in-a-lifetime event.

All six selected talented riders are currently competing in Yamaha Motor Europe’s 2023 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Championship and are already getting used to operating in a World Championship paddock. The lucky riders are: Eduardo Burr (aged 16) from Brazil, Dawid Nowak (aged 14) from Poland, Marc Vich (aged 16) from Spain, Krittapat Keankum (aged 18) and Thurakij Buapa (aged 19) from Thailand, and Shoma Yamane (aged 15) from Japan.

The Yamaha VR46 Master Camp training programme is intended to nurture talent. Racing and fitness professionals designed the Master Camp specifically with the aim to give young Yamaha stars a boost by enhancing their riding technique and overall professionalism.

To improve the twelfth edition Master Camp recruits’ skills, they will have a chance to ride at the VR46 Motor Ranch’s Flat Track on YZ250Fs and on its MX track for soft cross training on YZ125s. Furthermore, the youngsters will be riding at the Circuito di Pomposa on YZF-R3s, at Jeepers Park - Cattolica on MiniGP YZ85 bikes, and will also be turning their hands to go-karts at Jeepers Park.

The students will be joined by their VR46 Academy seniors at every session for some personal coaching. This year the ‘coaching panel’ will be joined by Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp rider Manuel Gonzalez, who will bring the competence and expertise he gathered in the 2022-2023  Moto2 seasons to the selected bLU cRU riders.

Besides riding, the protégées will also work out at the Fisio Gym and receive MotoGP eSport lessons from Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Lorenzo Daretti, aka Trastevere73.

Moreover, the twelfth-edition riders will be provided with new Yamaha VR46 Master Camp outfits for on and off-track wear (made possible by Oakley, Alpinestars, and VR46).

News, images, videos and updates from the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp will be posted regularly on Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp’s social media channels (Facebook and Instagram) and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team’s website and YouTube channel throughout the twelfth edition:

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP website
Facebook

Instagram
YouTube
Tetsu Ono

Tetsu Ono

General Manager – Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.’s Motorsports Strategy Division

“We are highly anticipating the twelfth edition of the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp, a unique occasion. This collaborative event is ever evolving. The Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Moto2 Team (this year named ‘Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp’) is showing great progress in its second year in the Moto2 World Championship, inspiring young riders all over the world to hone their skills. The Yamaha VR46 Master Camp training week aims to help up-and-coming Yamaha talent with just that, and this year the programme is starting a new era.

"This is the first time that we have selected 2023 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Championship riders on a global scale, allowing youngsters from Europe, Asia, and Latin America to attend the same training week. Next week, we will have the six promising protegées in Tavullia to really allow them to get to terms with the information and skill sets that will be taught by our experienced Yamaha VR46 Master Camp instructors and, of course, the VR46 Academy Riders."
Carlo Casabianca

Carlo Casabianca

VR46 Riders Academy Director

“We are looking forward to starting the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp training week again. This twelfth edition will be more demanding and fun than ever! We have an extra day of riding that will allow the guys to really put their newly gained skills to the test. We have an exciting group of Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Championship riders again. Like with previous groups contesting in this class, all six new Master Camp riders are extremely talented. We are certain that the VR46 Academy riders and the instructors will be able to help them gain a lot of knowledge and skills, and provide them with a week of training that they will never forget!

“I would like to thank Yamaha and all those who have helped VR46 organise the Master Camp project. The VR46 Riders Academy and the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp training week are great examples of what can be achieved when key players in the racing industry come together to help pave the way for up-and-coming talents. We hope that this edition of the Master Camp training week will again be instrumental in furthering the racing careers of young riders.”
Eduardo Burr

Eduardo Burr

12th Edition Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Rider

Place of birth: Brazil
Date of birth: 29.05.2006
Team: Yamaha AD78 Team Latin America


Career Highlights:

2022
3rd in Latin American R3 Cup
Dawid Nowak

Dawid Nowak

12th Edition Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Rider

Place of birth: Poland
Date of birth: 03.11.2008
Team: Szkopek Team


Career Highlights:

2022
Polish SSP300 Champion

2020
Polish 125cc Champion

Marc Vich

Marc Vich

12th Edition Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Rider

Place of birth: Spain
Date of birth: 09.10.2006
Team: DS Racing School


Career Highlights:

2019
Spanish PromoRACC1 Champion
Krittapat Keankum (aka Idea)

Krittapat Keankum (aka Idea)

12th Edition Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Rider

Place of birth: Thailand
Date of birth: 22.02.2005
Team: Yamaha bLU cRU Thailand


Career Highlights:

2022
Champion FMSCT ALL Thailand Superbike Class Supersport 600cc (SS1) 18th Yamaha R3 EUROPEAN CUP

2021
Champion FMSCT ALL Thailand Superbike Class Supersport 600cc JUNIOR

2020
Champion FMSCT ALL Thailand Road Racing Class Sport Production 150cc U18

2019
Champion FIM Asia Motocross U15
Thurakij Buapa (aka Earth)

Thurakij Buapa (aka Earth)

12th Edition Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Rider

Place of birth: Thailand
Date of birth: 23.04.2004
Team: Yamaha bLU cRU Thailand


Career Highlights:

2022
Champion FMSCT ALL Thailand Superbike Class Sport Production 400 JUNIOR
Champion OR BRIC Superbike Class Supersport 600cc (SS1)
2nd FMSCT ALL Thailand Road Racing Class Sport Production 150cc U18

2021
Thailand Talent Cup
17th Asia Talent Cup

2020
Thailand Talent Cup

2019
Thailand Talent Cup
5th Asia Talent Cup (WC Thai Round)
Shoma Yamane

Shoma Yamane

12th Edition Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Rider

Place of birth: Japan
Date of birth: 19.06.2007
Team: bLU cRU Yamaha Racing Japan


Career Highlights:

2022
Champion in MFJ Cup, JP250 National class (MFJ=Motorcycle Federation of Japan)