Meet Some of the 2024 Yamaha Road Racers

Rider: Tyrone Tavares
Hometown: Pembroke, Ontario
Team: TT97 Racing Team
Race Number/Class: 97, Amateur Superbike
Make/Year/Model of Race Bike: 2016 Yamaha YZF-R1

2024 Race Plans:
This year, Tyrone will be contesting select CSBK rounds at Shannonville, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, and all Super Series Rounds.

Racing Bio:
Tyrone began his racing career in 2021 with the Shannonville Super Series on his 2016 Yamaha YZF-R1, winning the 2021 Novice Championship and Rookie of the Year. In 2024, Tyrone has already secured 1st and 2nd places at the CSBK Round 1 double header weekend, along with victories in the Shannonville Super Series.

Rider: Sebastian Hothaza
Team: Ride42.ca
Race Number/Class: 42, Pro Sport Bike
Make/Year/Model of Race Bike: 2009 Yamaha YZF-R6

2024 Race Plans:
Sebastian will be competing in the Pro Sport Bike category in CSBK and SOAR for 2024, with possible cameo appearances in Pro Superbike on a newly acquired 2022 YZF-R1.

Racing Bio:
Sebastian started dabbling in track days in 2016 and became a full-time racer in 2020. During his rookie year, Sebastian claimed the SOAR Rookie class championship and followed by with the 2022 SOAR Amateur Superbike Championship, along with earning his first CSBK race win. In his 2023 rookie Pro season, Sebastian finished 3rd in the SOAR Pro Sport Bike championship.

Rider: Ernest Bernhard
Hometown: Ste-Brigide-d'Iberville, Quebec 
Team: EB72, #fastestfarmer
Race Number/Class: 72, Pro Superbike
Make/Year/Model of Race Bike: 2023 Yamaha YZF-R1

2024 Race Plans:
This year, Ernest will be running the full CSBK schedule.

Racing Bio:
After racing motocross for several years, Ernest picked up the road racing bug and started competing in the CSBK Amateur Superbike class in 2016 on his 2016 YZF-R1. In 2017, he finished 3rd in the CSBK Amateur Superbike championship and was promoted to the Pro ranks for 2018. Ernest finished 6th in the 2022 CSBK Pro Superbike class while finishing 2nd in the Pro6GP regional series.

Rider: Craig Atkinson
Hometown: Ancaster, Ontario
Team: Acme Motorsports OnlyFans
Race Number/Class: #4, Pro Twins
Make/Year/Model of Race Bike: 2018 Yamaha MT-07

2024 Race Plans:
Craig will be running the full CSBK schedule in Pro Twins in 2024 along with the SOAR Regional Battle of The Twins class.

Racing Bio:
Craig is a veteran racer and has amassed a number of championships and lap records in his career, racing all over Canada in various classes. Despite his years of experience, Craig isn’t quite done with this sport yet, and hopes to continue to swing a leg over a bike as long as possible. Co-owner of Acme Motorsports in Ancaster, ON, Craig is a Journeyman Motorcycle Technician and Builder, specializing in road racing engines, suspension and chassis.

Rider: Laurent Laliberté-Girard
Hometown: Saint-Colomban, Quebec
Team: Liberty Racing
Race Number/Class: #57, Amateur Sport Bike
Make/Year/Model of Race Bike: 2008 Yamaha YZF-R6

2024 Race Plans:
Laurent plans to run the complete CSBK schedule in 2024 in pursuit of the Amateur Sport Bike and Superbike titles.

Racing Bio:
Laurent started riding off-road at the age of 4 and started road racing at 17 with the Vintage Road Racing Association in 2020. In 2023, Laurent managed to clinch the VRRA P3 Lightweight and Middleweight titles. Laurent also enjoyed similar success as a P3 Sidecar passenger. This year, Laurent has already scored multiple Amateur Sport Bike podiums, including a win in round 1.

Rider: Tomas Casas
Hometown: Peterborough, Ontario
Team: Tomas Casas Racing
Race Number/Class: #18, Pro Superbike
Make/Year/Model of Race Bike: 2022 Yamaha YZF-R1

2024 Race Plans:
Tomas plans to contest CSBK round 5 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and round 6 at Shannonville Motorsports Park.

Racing Bio:
Tomas began motocross racing at the age of 4 in his home country, Colombia. During his early days of off-road racing, Tomas managed to secure multiple championships including second place in the Latin American Championship.

In 2011, Tomas transitioned to road racing in Canada at the age of 12. As he progressed through the ranks, Tomas won multiple championships including the 2013 Honda CBR250 Cup, the 2014 AM Sport Bike, the 2015 Pro Rookie of the Year, and Pro Sport Bike Championships in 2017 and 2018.

Rider: Drew Weber
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Team: Weber Autosports
Race Number/Class: #13, Pro Sport Bike
Make/Year/Model of Race Bike: 2008 and 2016 Yamaha YZF-R6

2024 Race Plans:
Drew plans to run the complete CSBK schedule and select Super Series rounds.

Racing Bio:
Drew started road racing in 2020 in the Shannonville Super Series with immediate success in the Novice class. Drew followed up his rookie championship season with multiple titles in 2021 in both, Heavyweight and Amateur Pro Sportbike classes. In 2022, Drew successfully defended his Heavyweight Sportbike title while adding the Pro Sportbike crown to his collection.

Rider: Rob Massicotte
Hometown: Willow Beach, Ontario
Team: 88 Moto
Race Number/Class: #50, Pro Sport Bike
Make/Year/Model of Race Bike: 2008 Yamaha YZF-R6

2024 Race Plans:
Rob plans to contest CSBK round 5 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park round 6 at Shannonville Motorsports Park including the full Shannonville Super Series.

Racing Bio:
Rob started road racing with the VRRA on a 1997 Yamaha TZ250, currently holding the VRRA 250 GP lap record at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Rob entered his first CSBK race in 2023 on his YZF-R6 and managed a respectable 4th place in Amateur Sport Bike. Rob followed up his CSBK success by winning the last two Amateur Sportbike races at the Super Series.

Rider: Tyler Brewer
Hometown: Georgetown, Ontario
Team: Outtacontrol Racing
Race Number/Class: #7, Amateur Superbike
Make/Year/Model of Race Bike: 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1M

2024 Race Plans:
Tyler is planning on contesting the entire CSBK series in the hopes of capturing the Amateur Superbike title.

Racing Bio:
Tyler started dabbling in road racing in 2016-17 with CSBK. After a brief hiatus, he returned to CSBK competition at the end of the 2021 season, armed with his YZF-R1M. Tyler managed a 3rd place finish at 2022 CSBK round 5. In 2023, Tyler ran the full CSBK Schedule and placed 4th in the Amateur Superbike championship.

We, at Yamaha Motor Canada, wish all Yamaha mounted racers the best of luck in 2024 and will be rooting for you at every opportunity.