Yamaha Motor France will enter the 2006 World Superbike Championship with a three-rider line-up that sees former Japanese 250cc champion Shinichi Nakatomi join the team's 2005 riders Norick Abe and Sebastien Gimbert.

_{source: crash.net}

27-year-old Nakatomi is an experienced R1 pilot, having ridden for Yamaha's YSP Racing Team in the Suzuka Eight-hour and Japanese JSB1000 championship since switching to four-strokes in 2003.

Having never raced outside his native Japan, Nakatomi is looking forward to the adventure of racing in the world championships.

"Although I still haven't finished the big task of winning the All-Japan JSB1000 title on the YZF-R1, I am going to start a new next season in World Superbike and try to focus everything I have learned over the past three-years with Yamaha and do the best I can," explained Shinichi.

"I don't intend to use my first year in the championship just as a year for learning. I intend to go out there and race aggressively, and I hope to be up there in the race for the championship."

Completing the expanded squad are Abe and Gimbert, both of whom are looking to improve on their rookie WSBK seasons in 2005.

Experienced former grand prix rider Abe ended the year in a disappointing 13th place but, having learned the circuits and the characteristics of the R1 and Pirelli tyres, is looking to become a regular feature in the battle for podium finishes in 2006.

"This year was my first season racing in the World Superbike series and there was a lot that I had to learn," claimed the former 500cc race winner. "But now, with this season of experience behind me, I am anxious to work on improving the things I wasn't able to do in the off-season and during the season this year so that I can approach the coming season better prepared. Our overseas tests will begin in December and my first aim is to do the best preparation possible during these tests."