Yamaha appoint Canepa as Road Racing Sporting Manager
Words and images courtesy Yamaha
Motor Europe N.V. (YME) has announced that Niccolò Canepa will assume the role of Road Racing Sporting Manager, Motorsport Division, Yamaha Motor Europe. This decision is effective immediately. Mr Canepa will take over responsibility for Yamaha’s Road Racing sporting operations from Andrea Dosoli. Mr Dosoli has been appointed Division Manager, Motorsport Division, Yamaha Motor Europe.
Canepa currently holds the role of Rider Coach and Development Rider for Yamaha Motor Europe’s WorldSBK project. He conducted this role alongside racing for Yamaha’s Official Endurance World Championship (EWC) Teams. First, he raced with GMT94 Yamaha and then Yamaha Austria Racing Team.
Having raced in various World Championship motorcycle categories, Canepa boasts an illustrious career spanning over 20 years.
These include MotoGP, WorldSBK, Moto2, WorldSSP and MotoE. He has also become the most successful Italian EWC rider in history.
He first joined Yamaha in 2016, racing in EWC and assuming the role of WorldSBK test rider. Twice an Endurance World Champion with Yamaha, Canepa announced his retirement from professional racing this year. He took part in his final EWC race at the Bol d’Or, contributing to Yamaha’s victory in the EWC manufacturers’ championship.
Canepa’s role as Road Racing Sporting Manager will see him oversee the sporting side of Yamaha Motor Europe’s WorldSBK and EWC efforts. Meanwhile, Riccardo Tisci (YME Motorsport Road Racing Technical Manager) will continue to oversee the technical side of the projects. Both will report into Andrea Dosoli, Division Manager, Motorsport.
Andrea Dosoli, Division Manager, Motorsport Division, Yamaha Motor Europe, said:
“We are very happy that while Niccolò is retiring from racing, he will remain in the Yamaha family. He assumes the role of Road Racing Sporting Manager. After nine seasons with Yamaha racing in EWC and as our Development Rider for WorldSBK, Niccolò knows both the WorldSBK and EWC projects very well. In his role as Rider Coach, he has shown excellent people and management skills. These skills will serve him well as he steps up to the next level. He already has very strong relationships with our teams, riders, the FIM, and championship promoters. So, I am confident that Niccolò, together with Riccardo Tisci, who will continue to oversee the technical side of our road racing projects, will make a strong management team.”