World Championship Motorsports
Encyclopedia
World Championship Motorsports (WCM) was a grand-prix motorcycle racing team formed in 1992 by Bob MacLean and Peter Clifford. The team ran Yamaha
motorcycles from to . They were sponsored by Red Bull
for to and were called Red Bull Yamaha WCM.
and John Hopkins
, raced for the team.
For Chris Burns and David de Gea
made up the team's rider line-up. Red Bull left the team to sponsor KTM
at the 125cc World Championship. WCM joined forces with Harris Performance Products
and was renamed to Harris WCM. Harris WCM built their own 4-stroke MotoGP racer with an engine based on the Yamaha YZF-R1
engine. The FIM
however found that the motorcycle was not in conformity with the championship technical regulations and the team was disqualified. The team appealed but the International Disciplinary Court turned the appeal down. The team took their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (the final stage in the appeal process) but the court again ruled in FIM's
favour. Following the courts decision the team entered the British
, German
and the Czech Republic Grand Prix
using 1993 2-stroke 500cc Yamaha motorcycles while they continued to develop the 4-stroke machine. The Harris WCM motorcycle made its debut at the Portuguese Grand Prix
.
For Chris Burns was joined by Michel Fabrizio
as the team riders. following an injury mid-season Burns was replaced by James Ellison
while Youichi Ui
replaced Fabrizio following Fabrizio's one race ride for Aprilia
at the Portuguese Grand Prix
.
Halfway through the season WCM announced that it joined forces with Blata
to run a V6 machine for . The team was called Blata WCM and James Ellison
and Franco Battaini
were the team riders. The new motorcycle was not ready at the start of the season and the team continued using their Harris WCM motorcycle. The new V6 motorcycle was due to make its debut at Czech Republic Grand Prix
but it was not ready. Blata
said that the bike would be completed but the motorcycle never raced.
The provisional entry list for listed WCM with Bimota
engines and Jeremy McWilliams
and Jason Perez as riders. but the team was missing from the final entry list as the team dropped out of the championship.
In June 2006, WCM and Winona Racing, announced a strategic partnership to run a 250cc World Championship team in 2007 while WCM also planned a 2007 MotoGP return. Winona WCM, did not race in 2007 after the team's principal sponsor failed to deliver funding in time.
Notable riders include John Hopkins
, Noriyuki Haga
, Garry McCoy
, Neil Hodgson
, James Haydon
, James Ellison
, Alex Hofmann
, José Luis Cardoso
, Simon Crafar
, and Ralf Waldmann
.
Yamaha Motor Company
, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
motorcycles from to . They were sponsored by Red Bull
Red Bull
Red Bull is an energy drink sold by the Austrian Red Bull GmbH, created in 1987 by the Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz. In terms of market share, Red Bull is the most popular energy drink in the world, with 3 billion cans sold each year. Dietrich Mateschitz was inspired by an already...
for to and were called Red Bull Yamaha WCM.
2002 and later
For when the rules changed to allow 4-stroke engines up to 990cc WCM remained with the old 500cc 2-stroke motorcycle. Garry McCoyGarry McCoy
Garry McCoy is a professional motorcycle racer. He has won races in the 125 cc and 500 cc World Championships, as well as in the Superbike World Championship. He is noted for his oversteering style of riding, earning him the nickname "The Slide King".McCoy was born in Sydney...
and John Hopkins
John Hopkins (motorcycle racer)
John "Hopper" Hopkins is an American motorcycle racer currently racing in the British Superbike Championship . Hopkins has raced previously in MotoGP, AMA Superbike Championship, and Superbike World Championship. He first raced in MotoGP in 2002 for the Red Bull Yamaha WCM team on a two-stroke...
, raced for the team.
For Chris Burns and David de Gea
David de Gea
David de Gea Quintana is a Spanish footballer who plays for Manchester United as a goalkeeper. Born in Madrid, he started his career aged 10 with Atlético Madrid and rose through the academy system at the club before making his senior debut in 2009...
made up the team's rider line-up. Red Bull left the team to sponsor KTM
KTM
KTM Sportmotorcycle AG is an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and moped manufacturer.The company was founded in 1934 by engineer Hans Trunkenpolz in Mattighofen. It started out as a metal working shop and was named Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen...
at the 125cc World Championship. WCM joined forces with Harris Performance Products
Harris Performance Products
Harris Performance Products are a British motorcycle racing and parts manufacturer.-Background:The family-run company Harris Performance Products Limited is based in Hertford...
and was renamed to Harris WCM. Harris WCM built their own 4-stroke MotoGP racer with an engine based on the Yamaha YZF-R1
Yamaha YZF-R1
The Yamaha YZF-R1 is an open class sport bike, or superbike, motorcycle manufactured by Yamaha Motor Company since 1998.-1998–1999:Yamaha launched the YZF-R1 after redesigning the Genesis engine to offset the crankshaft, gearbox input, and output shafts. This "compacting" of the engine made the...
engine. The FIM
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....
however found that the motorcycle was not in conformity with the championship technical regulations and the team was disqualified. The team appealed but the International Disciplinary Court turned the appeal down. The team took their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (the final stage in the appeal process) but the court again ruled in FIM's
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....
favour. Following the courts decision the team entered the British
2003 British motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2003 British motorcycle Grand Prix was the eighth round of the 2003 MotoGP Championship. It took place on the weekend of 11 - 13 July, 2003 at the Donington Park circuit.-MotoGP classification:-250cc classification:-125cc classification:...
, German
2003 German motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2003 German motorcycle Grand Prix was the ninth round of the 2003 MotoGP Championship. It took place on the weekend of 25 - 27 July, 2003 at the Sachsenring.-MotoGP classification:-250cc classification:-125cc classification:...
and the Czech Republic Grand Prix
2003 Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2003 Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix was the tenth round of the 2003 MotoGP Championship. It took place on the weekend of 15-17 August 2003 at the Masaryk Circuit located in Brno, Czech Republic.-MotoGP classification:-250cc classification:...
using 1993 2-stroke 500cc Yamaha motorcycles while they continued to develop the 4-stroke machine. The Harris WCM motorcycle made its debut at the Portuguese Grand Prix
2003 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2003 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix was the eleventh round of the 2003 MotoGP Championship. It took place on the weekend of 5 - 7 September, 2003 at the Autódromo do Estoril.-MotoGP classification:-250cc classification:-125cc classification:...
.
For Chris Burns was joined by Michel Fabrizio
Michel Fabrizio
Michel Fabrizio is a professional motorcycle road racer. Since , he has been racing for Ducati Xerox Team alongside Noriyuki Haga on the new Ducati 1198 in the Superbike World Championship.-Early years:...
as the team riders. following an injury mid-season Burns was replaced by James Ellison
James Ellison (motorcycle racer)
James Desmond Ellison is an English motorcycle racer. He is currently set to make a return to Moto GP for the 2012 season on a CRT bike for Paul Bird Motorsport. He is a double European Superstock champion, World Endurance champion and has previously raced in British Superbikes, World Supersport,...
while Youichi Ui
Youichi Ui
Youichi Ui is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. His best seasons were in 2000, when he finished second in the 125cc world championship behind Roberto Locatelli and in 2001, when he finished second behind Manuel Poggiali...
replaced Fabrizio following Fabrizio's one race ride for Aprilia
Aprilia
Aprilia is an Italian motorcycle company, one of the seven marques owned by Piaggio, the world's fourth largest motorcycle manufacturer.Aprilia started as a scooter manufacturer, but has more recently come to be known for its race-winning sportbikes...
at the Portuguese Grand Prix
2004 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2004 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix was the eleventh round of the 2004 MotoGP Championship. It took place on the weekend of 3 -September 5, 2004 at the Autódromo do Estoril.-MotoGP classification:-250cc classification:-125cc classification:...
.
Halfway through the season WCM announced that it joined forces with Blata
Blata (company)
Blata, is a Czech company, based in Blansko, that produces high performance, mini moto bikes.These bikes are designed and built for use on a closed, paved circuit....
to run a V6 machine for . The team was called Blata WCM and James Ellison
James Ellison (motorcycle racer)
James Desmond Ellison is an English motorcycle racer. He is currently set to make a return to Moto GP for the 2012 season on a CRT bike for Paul Bird Motorsport. He is a double European Superstock champion, World Endurance champion and has previously raced in British Superbikes, World Supersport,...
and Franco Battaini
Franco Battaini
Franco Battaini was an Italian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. His best years were in 2002 and 2003 when he finished sixth in the 250cc world championship. In 2005 Battaini competed in MotoGP aboard the Blata WCM. He had a very unsuccessful season taking a best finish of 11th in Japan - where...
were the team riders. The new motorcycle was not ready at the start of the season and the team continued using their Harris WCM motorcycle. The new V6 motorcycle was due to make its debut at Czech Republic Grand Prix
2005 Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2005 Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix was the eleventh round of the 2005 MotoGP Championship. It took place on the weekend of 26 -August 28, 2005 at the Masaryk Circuit located in Brno, Czech Republic.-MotoGP classification:-250cc classification:...
but it was not ready. Blata
Blata (company)
Blata, is a Czech company, based in Blansko, that produces high performance, mini moto bikes.These bikes are designed and built for use on a closed, paved circuit....
said that the bike would be completed but the motorcycle never raced.
The provisional entry list for listed WCM with Bimota
Bimota
Bimota is a small, Italian manufacturer of custom and production motorcycles. It was founded in 1973 in Rimini, Italy by Bianchi, Morri and Tamburini. The company name is a portmanteau derived from the first two letters of each of the three founders' surnames, i.e...
engines and Jeremy McWilliams
Jeremy McWilliams
Jeremy McWilliams , is a motorcycle road racer. Until Scott Redding's win at the 2008 125cc British Grand Prix, he remained the only British rider to win a race or pole in an FIM MotoGP World Championship class in the 2000s.For 2007, he was to race in the MotoGP series for the Ilmor team, despite a...
and Jason Perez as riders. but the team was missing from the final entry list as the team dropped out of the championship.
In June 2006, WCM and Winona Racing, announced a strategic partnership to run a 250cc World Championship team in 2007 while WCM also planned a 2007 MotoGP return. Winona WCM, did not race in 2007 after the team's principal sponsor failed to deliver funding in time.
Notable riders include John Hopkins
John Hopkins (motorcycle racer)
John "Hopper" Hopkins is an American motorcycle racer currently racing in the British Superbike Championship . Hopkins has raced previously in MotoGP, AMA Superbike Championship, and Superbike World Championship. He first raced in MotoGP in 2002 for the Red Bull Yamaha WCM team on a two-stroke...
, Noriyuki Haga
Noriyuki Haga
, is a Japanese professional motorcycle racer. Haga has been runner-up in the Superbike World Championship three times, and has finished 3rd in the series four times....
, Garry McCoy
Garry McCoy
Garry McCoy is a professional motorcycle racer. He has won races in the 125 cc and 500 cc World Championships, as well as in the Superbike World Championship. He is noted for his oversteering style of riding, earning him the nickname "The Slide King".McCoy was born in Sydney...
, Neil Hodgson
Neil Hodgson
Neil Stuart Hodgson is a former British motorcycle racer who won the 2000 British Superbike Championship, and the 2003 Superbike World Championship titles. Neil then went on to have a moderately successful 4 years in the American Superbike Championship, with a best 5th place championship finish...
, James Haydon
James Haydon
James Richard Barnaby Haydon , was a world class motorcycle racer. He raced in 250cc and 500cc Grand Prix, MotoGP and the World Superbike Championship. He retired in 2008....
, James Ellison
James Ellison (motorcycle racer)
James Desmond Ellison is an English motorcycle racer. He is currently set to make a return to Moto GP for the 2012 season on a CRT bike for Paul Bird Motorsport. He is a double European Superstock champion, World Endurance champion and has previously raced in British Superbikes, World Supersport,...
, Alex Hofmann
Alex Hofmann
Alexander Hofmann is a retired Grand Prix motorcycle road racer, who now works on German television coverage of the sport...
, José Luis Cardoso
José Luís Cardoso
Jose Luis Cardoso is a Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. During the 2006 season, he rode for the Pramac d'Antin Ducati squad, his second time with this team.-Early career:...
, Simon Crafar
Simon Crafar
Simon Crafar is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from New Zealand.He won Malaysia's Superbike championship in 1991. In 1993 he was racing for Harris in the 500cc World Championship before joining the Suzuki factory racing team in the 250 class for the latter part of the season...
, and Ralf Waldmann
Ralf Waldmann
Ralf Waldmann is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.In 1996, Waldmann finished second to Max Biaggi in the 250cc world championship. In the 1997 season, he gave Biaggi a strong challenge, winning four races and finishing only two points behind the Italian...
.