The Yamaha Racing Team has confirmed that it will return full time to the Australian Superbike Championship series in 2011, campaigning Kevin Curtain and Rick Olson in the Supersport ranks.

YRT will embark on one of their busiest race seasons ever as they will compete at the Australasian FX Superbike Championship (FX) as well as the ASBK this year.

The team will compete in 11 national road racing events plus selected high profile meetings such as the Bel-Ray Six Hour, making it a huge season for the team.

After a hiatus from the ASBK championship last year, YRT will re-enter the series with the sole focus of winning the Supersport class aboard the YZF-R6.

Successful guest appearances in 2010 whetted the appetite of the team and YRT will return to fray determined to add another championship plaque to the wall.

“Re-entering the ASBK is because Yamaha is passionate about racing,” commented YRT team manager John Redding. “As a company we pride ourselves on our continued commitment to racing and for 2011 we have the means and budget to contest both series.

“Our race team already has the knowledge, expertise and performance parts to tackle the 600cc Supersport class in the ASBK. It would be a shame to let that go to waste when we can be on the race track and competing for national championships.”

As they did in 2010, YRT will again campaign the full six round Australasian FX Superbike Championships with a full complement of riders.

Reigning champions Curtain and Olson will be joined by dual national Superstock champion Pat Medcalf for the FX championship.

All three riders will grid up on the Yamaha R1 in the FX1000 Superbike class, while Curtain will also take on the FX600 duties.

Recommitting to the series that features largely production-based equipment was an easy decision and YRT.

“It is going to be an enormous year for everyone on the team,” Redding added. “The FX Championship proved to be a wise move for us in 2010 and with the reduced costs of racing a production based series, we have been able to include more events in 2011.

“Winning races and championships is the ultimate accolade for any bike and manufacturer and with the Yamaha R1 and R6 we believe we have the bikes to take us to the top of the class.”

The team’s first race of the season will be an ASBK event alongside the World Superbikes at Phillip Island late next month.