Image: Supplied.

Yamaha 2023 Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) teams have broken cover ahead of the Portimao pre-season test, including the livery of Australia’s Remy Gardner with the GYTR GRT outfit.

Spearheading the manufacturer’s WorldSBK title aspirations is former champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, joined by Andrea Locatelli for a third consecutive year in the Pata Yamaha Prometeon team.

An all-new line-up features in GYTR GRT Yamaha for 2023, with Gardner switching from MotoGP after a single season in the premier class with Tech3 KTM Factory Racing to pair double Supersport world champion Dominique Aegerter who makes to step up to the R1.

Also graduating from WorldSSP, Lorenzo Baldassari will make his premier class debut with the GMT94 squad, while reigning British Superbike champion Bradley Ray will get the chance to showcase his talents by participating in the European rounds of WorldSBK with the Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team.

“For the first time, we will have six riders contracted directly by Yamaha representing our brand in the FIM Superbike World Championship, four of them World Champions and one national champion,” said Yamaha Motor Europe road racing manager Andrea Dosoli.

“It’s a strong rider lineup, the strongest we’ve fielded since returning to the championship in 2016, and our expectations are high going into the new season. In Toprak and Andrea, we have two experienced championship campaigners, while Remy brings with him a wealth of experience from MotoGP.

“Dominique, Lorenzo, and Bradley are all proof that our unique step-up program, where Yamaha riders who excel at both an international and national level, are given the opportunity to step up to WorldSBK. The investment in our riders has also been matched by the investment in development, with the R1 improving in key areas, which was illustrated by the performance of all our riders at the recent Jerez test.

“We are in a good position to fight once again for the World Championship title, but we know that we need to eliminate the mistakes that robbed us of important points last year and put together a perfect season. Thanks to our riders, and I wish them the best of luck for the coming campaign.”

Pre-season testing continues this week at Portimao ahead of the opening round of the 2023 Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island between 24-26 February.