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Valentin Debise will compete full-time in the 2023 FIM Supersport World Championship with GMT94 Yamaha after several one-off outings with the French squad over the last few seasons. Debise will enter the world stage as a two-time French Supersport champion while he will also be the team’s only full-time rider in 2023 with French rider Debise chosen because of his track record on both the domestic and international stages.

Debise has both WorldSSP and WorldSBK experience from his time within the World Championship paddock. He made his WorldSSP debut in 2012 and took a best result of eighth place at Donington Park, when he raced on Honda machinery. He returned for a one-off appearance at Imola but did not finish the race while he had five races in 2014, still with Honda machinery, with a best result of 14^th place coming at Portimao and Jerez.

He spent some time away from the WorldSBK paddock but returned in 2020, in WorldSBK, for the Kawasaki TPR squad at his home round at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and also at Magny-Cours. He took a best result of 14^th, coming in the Tissot Superpole Race in Spain as well as Race 1 on home soil in Race 1 at Magny-Cours. In 2021, Debise had three rounds as a replacement rider in WorldSSP for GMT94 Yamaha, taking two six-place finishes at the Circuito San Juan Villicum. This season, he has had two further rides with GMT94 Yamaha and taken four top-ten finishes at Magny-Cours in four races, including fighting for the podium both at Magny-Cours and Most.

It has been a busy year for Debise as he has also been competing in the French championship, on both supersport and superbike machinery. Racing both the Yamaha YZF-R6 and Yamaha YZF-R1, Debise claimed a combined 21 victories in France throughout the season as he switched between bikes, taking the supersport title for a second consecutive year while he finished second in the French superbike championship; 31 points down on the title winner.

Discussing his full-time move to WorldSSP, Debise said: "I am delighted to join the GMT94 Yamaha team as a regular rider for the 2023 season. This has been my target for the past two seasons and comes as a result of a lot of effort and determination over the last few years. We have already had some great races together, and now I have the opportunity to show my full potential. My racing season is over this year, but I will continue to train to be ready for the first test of 2023. Thanks to GMT94 Yamaha for believing in me, and to all my partners who have supported me. Thank you also to the French championship, which allowed me to show my potential.”

Team Manager Christophe Guyot added: “Before Magny-Cours, Jules Cluzel announced to us his desire to end his racing career this year. Because of him, we have 25 podiums and seven victories in WorldSSP. I would like to thank him first of all for having placed GMT94 among the top teams in the World Championship. We talked with Andy Verdoia, who after two seasons in WorldSSP needs more time to reach his full potential. We will help him improve between now and the end of the season in order to find the 2023 project that suits him best. Undefeated in the French Supersport championship this season, Valentin showed us his capabilities in all conditions as a substitute and wildcard rider in WorldSSP. The good relationship that he has built with the team members, his tremendous motivation and stunning performances on the French and world scene have fully convinced us that he can be the rider to lead our project in the World Supersport Championship."

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