Yamaha close agreement with David Philippaerts
By TMX Archives on 15th Jul 07
The Yamaha Motocross Team has agreed with the Italian star rider David Philippaerts to ride their factory YZ450FM in the MX1 world championship for 2008 and 2009.
Next year David will race alongside present MX1 world championship leaderJoshua Coppins to defend the Yamaha Motocross Team's leading position in thepremier motocross class, mixing Coppins' vast MX1 GP winning experience withPhilippaerts' youthful aggression and future promise. Yamaha are stilldiscussing with current Yamaha Motocross Team rider Marc de Reuver about thecontinuation of their relationship.
Before his rise to GP stardom Philippaerts was racing with Yamaha machineryand the guidance of 1999 Yamaha MX500 world champion Andrea Bartolini, who nowcurrently is test rider for the Yamaha Motocross Team. In 2004 David made hisfulltime debut in the MX2 class finishing his first year 19th overall. Thefollowing year his progress was quick and impressive, winning his first GP inFrance (round nine), followed by a further win in South Africa. Last seasonDavid's results further improved and he finished third overall, adding four moreMX2 GP victories achieved in Bulgaria, Italy, UK and the Czech Republic to histally.
In 2007 Philippaerts made a very successful switch to MX1 and currentlyholds fourth position overall, the result of three GP podiums including one winat Teutschenthal, Germany
Profile
Name: David Philippaerts
Date of Birth: 7 December1983
Nationality: Italian
Career highlights
2006: 3rd MX2 World Championship, 2nd ItalianInternational Championship
2005: 4th MX2 World Championship
2004: 19thMX2 World Championship, Italian Champion
2003: Italian Champion
2002:2nd Italian Championship, 3rd European 125 Championship
1993: Started racing