Coppola joins GRT Yamaha for World Supersport

Inaugural World Supersport 300 championship runner-up Alfonso Coppola will graduate up to World Supersport in 2018 as GRT Yamaha’s entry into the European Supersport Cup.

The 20-year-old missed out on the first-ever World Supersport 300 title by just one point to Marc Garcia last year but having impressed with one win at the Lausitzring plus six further rostrums – only missing out on the podium in two races all year – the Italian has secured a deal with GRT Yamaha to enter the European Supersport Cup for 2018.

Coppola will work alongside defending World Supersport champion Lucas Mahias and team-mate Federico Caricasulo and compete at all the European rounds, beginning in Aragon in April with his eight-round season wrapping up at Magny-Cours in September.

Coppola, who spent two years in the European Junior Cup before moving up to World Supersport 300, is relishing the opportunity to switch to the 600cc class with defending champions GRT Yamaha.

“I am very happy to be making the move up to WorldSSP and to do so as an official Yamaha rider is even more exciting,” Coppola said. “I have never worked with an official team before and I know that this represents a huge opportunity for me to take the next step in my career.

“I realise I have to make the most of a chance like this and I have been working hard during the winter in the gym and with the Yamaha R6 to prepare in the best possible way for the first round at Aragon.

“I want to thank Yamaha and the GRT team for the faith they have shown in me and this incredible opportunity they have given me. I cannot wait to start the season and I am determined to repay their belief in me.”