AndyVerdoia

Born in Nice 20 years ago, Andy Verdoia began his career at just five years old, piloting a PW50. He was runner-up of the French Open championship in 50cc before he turned nine. Ranked fourth in the Champion of Spain Promovelocitat 70cc in 2012, he went on to compete in the 80cc category before being crowned Moto4 Champion in 2014.

The French rider arrived in the WorldSBK paddock in 2018 after being chosen as one of the six drivers who would take part in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship as part of the bLU cRU Challenge Yamaha R3. Featuring in the Samurai-YART Racing team, he raced for three races with 12th place as his best result, in Magny-Cours.

In 2019, the French teenager competed in his first full season in the category with the Yamaha MS Racing CD outfit, again being part of the bLU cRU project, and immediately stood out for his speed and consistency. In Misano he had his first podium with third, but it was his performance in the next round, at Donington Park, where he truly shone, when he came back from the bottom of the group and finished in second position. Verdoia was in the battle for the title until the penultimate race and finished the season in 4th position and as the best ranked Yamaha driver.

His progression allowed him to make the leap to the FIM Supersport World Championship in 2020, in which he struggled to initially adapt before taking a first win in the class by staying out in the pouring rain of Barcelona on slick tyres, waiting for the red flag, becoming the youngest-ever World Supersport race winner, replacing fellow countryman Yoann Tiberio’s wonder win from Monza in 2006. Two top ten finishes at Magny-Cours in 2021 in WorldSSP sees him graduate to the GMT94 Yamaha team, who have a wealth of experience to help the promising young French talent mature and develop to reach his potential.