Motourage

Carmelo Martinex

The UEM European Championships at Albacete last week saw Yamaha riders take a number of podiums across the classes. Carmelo Morales was the star Supersport rider of the series, taking not just the pole position start but also dominating the Supersport race. The Yamaha YZF-R6 Gigaset Laglisse Team rider crossed the finishing line to claim the chequered flag a clear five seconds ahead of second placed rider Marko Jerman. Joining him on the podium in third place was Dutch rider Raymond Schouten on the Verolme GrafiCom Racing Team R6. Morales had sent out a clear message in qualifying, setting a pole time nearly two seconds ahead of his closest rival, fellow Yamaha R6 rider Antonio Gallardo. Seven of the top ten finishers in the race were riding Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport machines.

“I am very happy about this title because after winning the Superstock 1000 I proved that I am extremely competitive in this category too,” said Carmelo Morales. “It was a difficult race but when I found the right pace the only thought in my mind was not to make any mistake until the end.”

Bernat Martinez

Fellow Spanish rider Alberto Santamaria delivered further success for Yamaha with a decisive win in the Junior Supersport class, the second Yamaha joining him on the podium in third place was ridden by Tony Covena from the Netherlands.

Yamaha also won a hard fought podium in the Superstock 1000 class with Team Bernat Yamaha YZF-R1 rider Bernat Martinez. Martinez had dominated qualifying to take pole position ahead of the 1000cc race, the only rider to drop below 1 minute 30 seconds on his R1.

Carmelo Morales celebrates after his European Championship win

From October 31 to November 1,  107 riders from across Europe took to Spain’s Circuito de Albacete to fight it out in the single event championship.  Reigning 2008 Superstock champion Carmelo Morales made short work of defending his title on his 2009 Yamaha YZF-R1.  The quickest rider of the weekend in most sessions, Morales was hotly pursued by fellow Yamaha rider Bernat Martinez in the race but held on retain the title for the second year with Martinez taking second.  Morales and Martinez were two of six Yamaha riders taking top ten finishes.  Spanish rider Javier Fores took the second place honors in the Supersport class on his Yamaha R6, with Yamaha again dominating to take six of the top ten spots in the race and subsequent championship standings.

For more information, visit www.europeanchamp.com.