The GMT94 Yamaha outfit will have a new line-up at the Tissot Czech Round as Italian rider Federico Caricasulo will leave the French outfit after just four rounds of the 2021 FIM Supersport World Championship campaign, having joined the team at the start of the season after missing out on a ride in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship.

The 2021 season has not gone to plan for Caricasulo following his switch to GMT94 Yamaha with a best result of sixth, coming in Race 1 at MotorLand Aragon and Race 2 at the Circuito Estoril. Despite flashes of pace from the Italian, the results have not gone the way he would have liked as the 2019 Championship runner-up looked to go one better in 2021 than he did in 2019. The highlight of Caricasulo’s 2021 campaign came in the Tissot Superpole session at the Circuito Estoril when he claimed pole position, but he was unable to convert that into podium placings.

The 25-year-old made his WorldSBK debut in the 2020 season when he stepped up with the GRT Yamaha outfit, alongside American Garrett Gerloff. Although a frequent point-scorer in WorldSBK, claiming points in half the races he competed in last year, he was unable to consistently break into the top ten. He secured a best result of ninth in WorldSBK on five occasions.

In a post on Instagram, Caricasulo said: “After the Assen weekend, the disappointing results of this early season and some unexpected difficulties, Team GMT94 and I decided to take different paths, for the good of both. However, I would like to thank Christophe Guyot and GMT94 Yamaha and wish them the best for the next races. As for me and my future, you will soon have news.”

Caricasulo will be replaced at the Autodrom Most by Valentin Debise, who has been testing with the GMT94 Yamaha outfit after winning a wildcard outing at the French Round with the team following success in the French supersport championship. The Albi-born rider competed in two rounds of the 2020 WorldSBK campaign as a replacement rider at OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini racing, claiming two points finishes. The French rider also has experience of the World Supersport Championship having competed in 15 races between 2012 and 2014, with a best result of eighth. Debise currently leads both the French supersport and superbike championships.

Debise said: “It's really great to have this opportunity. I have worked hard for several seasons now to show my potential at the world level. I am aware of the very high level that awaits me, so this will allow me to prepare as well as possible for the WorldSSP of Magny-Cours.”

Team Manager, Christophe Guyot, added: “We wish the best to Federico with whom we shared very good moments. We are delighted that Valentin will be able to know the Yamaha R6 of the World Championship in race conditions, after his test on the Carole circuit in July. Then, he will arrive with a perfect preparation for the WorldSBK French Round at Magny-Cours.”

GMT94 Yamaha will additionally provide German rider Patrick Hobelsberger with support throughout the Czech Round, with Hobelsberger making a return to WorldSSP action for the first time since the 2020 season came to a close. Hobelsberger will be one of a few riders with Most experience, having raced there and won two races, both by over eight seconds and from pole position, in the national German championship. Guyot said: “Patrick impressed the specialists who follow the German championship. He dreamed to come back into World Supersport at the Most circuit, and we decided to provide him a machine. The current situation made it possible to set up the project quickly. We wish him good luck for the upcoming race.”

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