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The Yamaha World Superbike team has unveiled a dashing new red livery after signing a sponsorship deal with the Santander Consumer Bank.

Part of the new sponsorship will see Santander provide finance products to some of Yamaha's Italian dealerships, in what Yamaha's Laurens Lien Koerkamp has described as a "fruitful" relationship.

"We're pleased to have secured a three-year partnership with Santander Consumer Bank," explained Koerkamp. "It is a very positive development that such a leading financial company values the marketing potential of motorcycle racing, and following their existing relationship with Yamaha Motor Italia this partnership is a perfect fit for us and a valuable new contribution to World Superbike racing as a whole."

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The new red and white Yamaha YZF-R1 machines will be piloted by Noriyuki Haga and Andrew Pitt in 2006.

It promises to be an interesting year for the team, after Haga set some blistering lap times during a recent testing session in Qatar.

"The new bike is a real improvement although we are still trying to find the perfect settings," explained Haga after the test. "The engine for sure is much nicer: less aggressive and stronger coming out of the corners, and the team has made some improvements in all areas. At the end we made some big changes to the front and, for me, it was a good direction."

The Japanese rider went on to say that he is happy with the team and keen to see how the bike performs come the start of the season.

08/02/12 - Triumph takes award for Motorcycle Live exhibition. Triumph is celebrating after being named the best exhibitor at Britain's leading motorcycle show.

08/02/12 - Yamaha extends low-finance offers. Yamaha has extended the range of motorcycles covered by its Street Wise finance promotion.

01/02/12 - David Robb leaves BMW post. The man responsible for transforming the BMW Motorrad motorcycle brand has left the company after 18 years.

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