World MX1 champion-in-waiting Tony Cairoli is quitting Yamaha and has been confirmed a starter for KTM for 2010.

That’s the shock news over the weekend as the “silly season” gets into full swing.

Yamaha Motor Europe and Yamaha Motor Italy jointly announced at the weekend that they will not be able to continue their relationship with Cairoli and the Yamaha Red Bull De Carli Team, current leaders of the MX1-GP Motocross World Championship, for 2010.

Yamaha will continue to give all the support needed for the remainder of this season for all parties to reach and focus on their mutual goal of capturing this year’s title.

Yamaha said it would like to express its utmost thanks to Claudio De Carli, his team and Antonio Cairoli whose excellent work over the last few years has led to titles across the board; not only at world championship level but also in European Supercross and also the Italian domestic series.

They will always remain a very proud part of Yamaha’s racing history and Yamaha wishes them all the best for the future.

KTM team boss Pit Beirer had this to say: “We will have Antonio Cairoli, Max Nagl, Rui Goncalves, Marvin Musquin, Shaun Simpson and Jeffrey Herlings. I mean the basic information has been said, and we are proud to bring this group and team together and we are fighting to bring motocross in KTM at a top position and being one of the top teams in the paddock.”

Photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com