Yamaha, Pata confirm 2021 WorldSBK contract extension

Pata will continue to back the factory Yamaha World Superbike team for a sixth season in 2021, after agreeing a further one-year contract extension.

Next season will see Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and new-signing Andrea Locatelli wearing the familiar Pata livery, as they seek to hand Yamaha its first WorldSBK title since Ben Spies in 2009.

“We’re all thrilled to continue this highly successful and long partnership with Pata Snack," said Andrea Dosoli, Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager.

"After six years in WorldSBK, Pata is now synonymous with both Yamaha and the championship."

To mark the contract renewal Razgatlıoglu, newly crowned World Supersport champion Locatelli and Dosoli visited the Pata factory in Lombardy, Italy, where they had lunch with company owner Remo Gobbi as well as a tour of the manufacturing facility.

"It was a pleasure to meet up with Remo at their fantastic new facility in Lombardy and I’m delighted that he is just as excited as we are about Yamaha and Pata’s future," Dosoli said.

"In 2021, we both have high aspirations in WorldSBK and their passion for working with young riders is perfectly in-line with Yamaha’s philosophy.”

Razgatlıoglu - who joined Pata Yamaha this season from Kawasaki - finished fourth in the 2020 standings, taking three race wins and nine podiums on the R1.

Team-mate Michael van der Mark added another Pata Yamaha victory, plus seven more podiums, on his way to fifth in the points during his final season with the team before moving to BMW for 2021.

GRT and Ten Kate also ran Yamaha machinery this year, with ex-MotoGP star Jonas Folger making some end-of-season wild-card appearances on an MGM Racing R1.