The 2025 Yamaha BLU CRU Master Camp proved a huge success, with some of the biggest names from MotoGP and WorldSBK inspiring ten young riders, aged 15–18, during an unforgettable week of training and fun at the Aspar Circuit in Valencia from 26–31 August.
Launched in 2016, Yamaha BLU CRU Master Camp is now fully part of Yamaha’s award-winning BLU CRU program, and with the addition of the BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 Team and the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team in 2025, Yamaha now offers the most direct and supported path from grassroots racing to the top of the sport.
At the core of this pathway is the BLU CRU road racing structure. Riders progress from national competitions to regional Yamaha R3 Cups, then the FIM R3 BLU CRU World Cup. From there, the best talents can move into the new FIM World Sportbike Championship in 2026, step up to WorldSSP, and ultimately aim to race in WorldSBK or MotoGP with Yamaha.
Passing on their knowledge throughout the week were some of Yamaha’s star riders: Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team’s 2021 MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo and his teammate Alex Rins, Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira from the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team, six-time FIM Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea and his Pata Maxus Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team teammate, Andrea Locatelli (2020 FIM Supersport World Champion), as well as 2021 FIM Moto2 World Champion Remy Gardner, who rides for the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team, Stefano Manzi, who is presently leading the FIM Supersport World Championship, and his teammate from the Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing WorldSSP Supported Team, Yuki Okamoto, plus Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros WorldSSP Supported Team’s Aldi Satya Mahendra, who became Indonesia’s first-ever road racing World Champion after clinching the 2024 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship.
In addition, the youngsters benefited from expert coaching by 2009 FIM 125cc World Champion and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Rider Performance Analyst Julián Simón, as well as multiple WorldSSP race winner and BLU CRU rider coach Jules Cluzel. They were joined by flat-track expert Marco Belli, who specialises in teaching handling, balance, and control techniques to young riders, and Kike Bañuls, who, with his team, oversaw the technical training.
The ten riders who represent eight different countries — Natalia Rivera (Spain), Arai Agaska (Indonesia), Christopher Clark (USA), Mario Salles (Brazil), Alessandro Di Persio (Italy), Thanakit Pratumtong (Thailand), Leonardo Marques (Brazil), Valentino Knezovic (Australia), Hinata Okada (Japan), and Rintaro Takemoto (Japan) — were selected for this once-in-a-lifetime experience from across the FIM R3 BLU CRU World Cup, the Yamalube R3 BLU CRU Latin America Championship, the Yamaha R3 BLU CRU Asia-Pacific Championship, and the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship, highlighting the global appeal of the BLU CRU program.
Before the action got underway, the Yamaha BLU CRU Master Camp kicked off with an official presentation and kit handover after the riders’ arrival on Tuesday. Greeting the participants were Paolo Pavesio (Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing), Tetsu Ono (General Manager, Motorsport Strategy Division, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.), and Niccolò Canepa (Road Racing Sporting Manager, Motorsport Division, Yamaha Motor Europe), with Oliveira and Gardner also on hand to hand out Alpinestars riding kit and Oakley sunglasses to all the participants and introduce them to the week’s activities.
First on the agenda on Wednesday was an intense but fun technical training session on YZ85s, overseen by Bañuls. The afternoon shifted to YZ250 flat track sessions with Belli, joined by Rea and Gardner, who rode alongside the youngsters throughout, with the focus for the day on technique and bike control.
The second day saw the riders return for more flat track training, this time taking part in a series of fun races against each other, as well as Rea and Gardner, where they could put into practice the techniques they had learnt. In the afternoon, the action moved to the Valencia Marina, where, in the company of multi-time world champion Chris MacClugage, the BLU CRU riders had the chance to have some fun on Yamaha WaveRunners, with Rins surprising the group by joining them on the water.
On Day 3, the youngsters experienced their first taste of Yamaha R7 action on the main 2.2km Aspar Circuit. Under the guidance of Cluzel, they learned track craft and racing exercises, with Miller adding professional insight while sharing the circuit with them. Cluzel also hosted a video analysis workshop, and further advice came from Mahendra and Okamoto, who spoke about making the step up to international racing.
The fourth day returned the focus to YZ85 drills with Bañuls, this time alongside Quartararo and Arbolino, who trained with the youngsters all morning. At the same time, Guevara, who was sidelined by injury, also provided encouragement and advice from trackside. Later in the day, it was time to mix things up and have some fun as the riders swapped bikes for go-karts and took part in a series of races against Quartararo, Arbolino, Guevara, and Locatelli.
The final day served as a fitting climax to the Yamaha BLU CRU Master Camp. Once again, the youngsters took to the Aspar Circuit on R7s, as Simón shared insights from the work he does with Quartararo and Rins in MotoGP. This time, Quartararo, Arbolino, and Locatelli joined the youngsters on track, taking time to mentor and coach them, before the riders took part in a Superpole shootout, which saw each of them head out on track on their own to set one flying lap.
Italy’s Alessandro Di Persio recorded the fastest time and was awarded top honours in a podium ceremony led by Simón, Ono, and Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team Manager Gino Borsoi. To close the week, Quartararo and Locatelli presented every participant with a personalised bib signed by all the Yamaha riders who had attended, to bring a perfect end to an incredible week of growth, inspiration, fun, and unforgettable memories.
Posted on September 23, 2025 by Michael Le Pard
