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A Champion will return to the FIM Supersport World Championship grid in 2024, with Lucas Mahias linking up with GMT94 Yamaha for next season. Mahias won the 2017 title on the Yamaha YZF-R6 machine when running with GRT Yamaha and will hope his return to Yamaha can provide some of the success he experienced before, while GMT94 Yamaha will hope Mahias’ arrival can return the French outfit to winning ways.

Mahias made his WorldSSP debut in 2014, completing two races and finish fourth in Qatar. That earned him a full-time seat for 2015 with a hit-and-miss year; taking one podium and three top-four finishes but only finishing four races. Nevertheless, his potential was on display and, after a few races in STK1000 and WorldSBK in 2016, he returned in 2017 for his second full campaign. It would prove to be his title-winning year after a stunning season.

Eight podiums in 12 races, including two wins, propelled him to the top of the standings ahead, 29 points clear of Kenan Sofuoglu. He returned in 2018, again with the GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team, and almost defended his title as he was defeated by Sandro Cortese. He finished fourth in 2019 and was second in 2020, both with the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing outfit, before graduating to WorldSBK with the same team.

Two seasons with the Independent Kawasaki outfit gave a best result of seventh in the Tissot Superpole Race at Donington Park in 2021, before losing his full-time ride with the team and switching to the Endurance World Championship. However, he remained in the paddock in 2023 with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, competing 10 races in WorldSSP as Can Oncu missed out through injury and also three in WorldSBK as he stood in for Tito Rabat.

For 2024, the Frenchman will return to the class where he’s enjoyed so much success. 29 podiums, including nine wins, have come for Mahias in WorldSSP since his debut while he’s also taken eight pole positions. He will be hoping his return to Yamaha machinery allows him to add to these stats in 2024, while GMT94 Yamaha will hope the 34-year-old can gave the team their first win since Jules Cluzel won at Mandalika in Race 2 in 2021.

Discussing his return to WorldSSP, Mahias said: “I am extremely happy to join GMT94 for 2024. It’s a team that I know well having raced with them several times in endurance and scored some points which helped to clinch the title in 2016. I also won with them in the French Supersport Championship. I want to thank Christophe and all his partners for believing in my potential as much as I believe in them. We have all the cards in hand to have a great season.”

GMT94 Yamaha Team Manager Christophe Guyot added: “We are delighted to welcome Lucas Mahias. After the podiums scored with Corentin Perolari in Australia, Valentin Debise (twice in France) and by Jules Cluzel (23 podiums and 7 wins) with GMT94, we are consolidating our commitment to take national categories to the top of the World Supersport. Lucas will rely on a team that will be able to bring together the skills of members and riders from different backgrounds to win and share. Lucas’ talent, energy and ambition are the assets that will motivate an entire team and raise the hopes of the young French generation.”

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