Beginning this Friday, April 20, through Sunday, April 22, Yamaha bLU cRU road racers in the MotoAmerica Superbike class will be on the world stage as they join stars of MotoGP in Austin, Texas for Round 2 of the 2018 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).

Yamaha Motor U.S. has a host of fan activities planned throughout the weekend in Austin, including two opportunities to meet Yamaha bLU cRU MotoAmerica road racers before they go to battle at COTA. The R World display area will showcase Yamaha’s newest models and fan-favorite apparel, with the opportunity to demo a 2018 Yamaha motorcycle Friday through Sunday.

Off-site from Circuit of the Americas in downtown Austin, the Hand Built Show will feature several custom Yamaha Yard Built motorcycles on display.

Meet the Yamaha bLU cRU Road Racers

Thursday night from 6-7 p.m., stop by Woods Fun Center at 11405 N I-35 in Austin, Texas. Monster Energy/Yamalube/Yamaha Factory Racing’s Cameron Beaubier and Garrett Gerloff will be on hand to meet fans, sign autographs and give away posters.

Other Yamaha bLU cRU road racers who will be at Woods Fun Center include:

– Monster Energy/Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha’s JD Beach

– Yamalube/Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz

– Yamaha Factory Racing Ambassador and bLU cRU Rider Coach Josh Hayes

All your favorite Yamaha U.S. bLU cRU Superbike racers will be available for autographs at their Team Transporters on Saturday for the Dunlop Paddock Autograph Session from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m.

Superbike Superpole (Qualifying) is on Friday at 5 p.m. CST, Superbike Race 1 will go green on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. CST, and Superbike Race 2 is on Sunday at 3:45 p.m. CST.

R World Hospitality Experience

Yamaha motorcycle owners (must prove ownership) can take advantage of Yamaha’s R World Hospitality area at COTA Friday through Sunday during normal track hours. R World guests can enjoy a live stream of all track activity on big screen TVs, with tables for guests to relax and enjoy light snacks and drinks provided by Yamaha. On Saturday morning, there will be a Q&A session with Cameron Beaubier and Garrett Gerloff from 11:30–11:45 a.m. and a Saturday evening question and answer session with Tech 3 Yamaha MotoGP team riders at approximately 5:30 p.m. (subject to rider availability).

See the 2018 Yamaha YZF-R1, R6, R3 and More on Display Throughout the Weekend

Yamaha’s remarkable R-series Supersport Motorcycles will be showcased in Yamaha’s R World Display Area at COTA. The YZF-R1M and YZF-R1 will be on display, in addition to the YZF-R1S, YZF-R6, YZF-R3. Plus, Garrett Gerloff’s MotoAmerica 2017 Supersport Championship-Winning YZF-R6 and a replica of Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP YZR-M1 will be available for viewing.

The R World display and apparel sales will be open in the Fan Zone at COTA on Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, April 22, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hats, T-shirts, and other Yamaha apparel – including Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales merchandise – will be available for purchase.

Take a Ride on a Yamaha Motorcycle

To demo a Yamaha YZF-R6, YZF-R3, Bolt, MT-10, MT-09, MT-07, XSR700, XSR900, FJ-09, Super Tenere, FJR1300, Star Eluder or Star Venture, go to the Support Paddock at COTA on Friday and Saturday, April 20 and 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., or Sunday, April 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. You must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid motorcycle license (permits are not allowed), a DOT-approved helmet, long pants, enclosed shoes, a shirt, and eye protection. To ride the MT-10, you also must be at least 25 years of age.

Custom Yamaha Yard Built Models on Display at Hand Built Show in Austin

Several custom Yamaha Yard Built models will be on display at the Hand Built Show in Austin on Friday, April 20 from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.; Saturday, April 21 from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.; and Sunday, April 22 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For more Yamaha racing news, results, photos, and videos, visit http://www.YamahaMotorsports.com/Racing

(Story and photo from MotoAmerica.com/Brian J Nelson)