The Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team today unveiled their new livery for the 2010 racing season, launching the new design on location at the Sterilgarda headquarters in Castiglione delle Stiviere to an audience of international journalists and sponsors.

Riders James Toseland and Cal Crutchlow revealed their new YZF-R1 racebikes then took time to answer questions about their upcoming season. Both two-time World Superbike champion Toseland and reigning World Supersport Champion Crutchlow have the potential to fight for the championship title this year.

New racing developments to the 2010 bike based upon the production crossplane crankshaft R1 include an increase in power of eight horsepower, it’s three kilograms lighter, has a different radiator shape, a complete carbon-fibre fuel tank, narrower lower fairing and a new exhaust system.

“The first race is coming up in two weeks and testing has been really promising after riding a GP bike for two years. After the test in Phillip island personally and machinery wise everything should be set to compete at the front from the first race,” Toseland said.

Crutchlow also looks forward to his maiden WSBK season.

“I’m looking forward to the year ahead, it’s going to be a good challenge, but tough,” he said. “Testing has gone well, hopefully we can turn that into good results from the first few races and build from there. I know we can do a good job.”

Laurens Klein Koerkamp, Yamaha Motor Europe racing manager, is hoping to recapture the success of Ben Spies from last season.

“After an incredibly successful season last year it’s back to business,” he said. “We have two new riders and we’ve taken the bike to the next level over the winter, we want to keep the world title at Yamaha. The grid is looking really tough this year but we have two of the toughest guys at the front.”

Sterilgarda joined up with Yamaha as a key Sponsor midway through the 2009 race season at the Monza round in Italy. The relationship has continued to grow successfully with Sterilgarda sharing in the championship success of 2009.

For 2010 Yamaha and Sterilgarda have remained committed to strengthening their partnership further and continuing to work closely together, sharing a common passion for racing and the desire to be the best.

“We were delighted to be able to join up with Yamaha in Monza in 2009, it was amazing to be able to share the year of successful racing together,” Nando Sarzi, Sterilgarda Alimenti Spa CEO, said. “We are very excited about 2010 and are looking forward to more success and our relationship continuing to develop.”