Yamaha will officially return to the World Supersport Championship this season with the Yamaha ParkinGO Team, which formerly fielded the factory Triumphs.

The team will retain British talent Chaz Davies and has signed Italian former Superbike rider Luca Scassa, switching from the Daytona 675 to Yamhaa’s YZF-R6 for the new year.

Yamaha won the World Supersport title with Cal Crutchlow in 2009, and it is those very bikes that the ParkinGO Team will use this season with just minimal development.

“This is a great opportunity for officially supported R6 machinery to return to the World Supersport Championship,” said Yamaha Motor Europe racing manager Laurens Klein Koerkamp.

“The R6 is a winning machine which, after taking the World Supersport Championship in 2009, has continued in 2010 with many national titles alongside the European Superstock 600 Championship title, despite not competing at world level.

“It is our belief and our vision that in today’s circumstances supporting a private team with the materials needed to compete is the appropriate involvement in World Supersport for a manufacturer.”

Following a whirlwind negotiation period, the team will debut at this week’s Portimao tests in Portugal.

“We managed to reach a mutually satisfying agreement with Yamaha Motor Europe in just 10 days time,” said Giuliano Rovelli, Yamaha ParkinGO team owner. “Having the opportunity to work with a manufacturer that has racing in its philosophy makes a big difference.

“I shared this important decision with the whole team. Chaz Davies and Luca Scassa are professional riders and are looking forward to having the chance to win the World Supersport Championship with a very competitive Yamaha R6.”