Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/949962
IN THE WIND P46 YOSHIMURA ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP CHANGES Y oshimura R&D of America announced changes in leadership, which went into ef- fect March 1. Yusaku Yoshimura has become the new CEO/CFO of Yoshimura R&D while Don Sakakura will move into an advi- sory role for the company. Yusaku Yoshimura is the grandson of Hideo "Pops" Yoshimura that founded the company 64 years ago in Japan. Yusaku began his career at Yo- shimura R&D in 2008 in the R&D department and began to direct the department in 2012. "This is the 10th year since I started to join Yoshimura R&D and it has been a privilege to spend some time working close- ly with Don Sakakura who is one of the few guys who established the Yoshimura brand in the U.S.," said Yusaku Yoshimura. "I'm very excited for this opportu- nity and greatly appreciate what he has left me. I have a strong team in place that I'm taking over from Don and confidence in the future." Don Sakakura, who started with Yoshimura in 1980 as a mechanic for Wes Cooley, will remain the President of Yo- shimura Racing LLC and will stay on with Yoshimura R&D in an advisor role. "Time flies when you enjoy your job," said Sakakura. "My appreciation goes out to the Yoshimura family for allowing me an opportunity to develop numer- ous skills over the years. As a result, together with Yoshimura's passionate team of employees, we've developed a very powerful brand. The personal and pro- fessional relationships that I've established within our industry is something I will always cher- ish. Yusaku Yoshimura has great leadership skills and will surely take Yoshimura to the next level!" Other changes with the com- pany include Brad Stephens a 24-year veteran of Yoshimura R&D taking on the role of COO, while Eric Steen will take over Yusaku's role of head of the R&D department. CN GASGAS FINALIZES WORLD ENDURO FACTORY TEAM G asGas says it has renewed its commitment for the 2018 enduro season by signing three riders: Christophe Nambotin, Danny McCanney and Antoine Basset. The team will be managed by former world champion Giovanni Sala. Nambotin and McCanney will ride the Gas- Gas EC 300 in the E3 class, while, Basset, who missed last year with a knee injury, will ride a GasGas EC 250 in the E2 division. GasGas also already has David Knight and Lars Enockl competing in the World Enduro Super Series, and Johnny Aubert, Jonathan Barragan and Cristian Espana will focus on next year's Dakar Rally. CN Giovanni Sala (right center) welcomes Christophe Nambotin (left), Danny McCanney (left center) and Antoine Basset (right) to GasGas' 2018 World Enduro Factory Team.