Yakhnich completes MV Augusta switch with Corti and Cluzel

Yakhnich Motorsport have announced their 2014 line-up, as the Russian squad replaces both World Supersport Champion Sam Lowes and their Yamaha machinery, with a switch to MV Augusta and a move up to the superbike class.

The team have brought onboard Italian MotoGP CRT refugee Claudio Corti, as the three time World Superstock Cup runner up returns to the WSB paddock following a number of years in GPs, and will ride a F4 RR for the Italian manufacturer.

He will be reunited with former Moto2 teammate Jules Cluzel, as the French rider steps back down from 1000s to 600s in an attempt win the title he missed out on in 2012 to Kenan Sofuoglu.

He will be joined in Supersport by Russian Vladimir Leonov, who remains with the team for a third season and will be hoping to build on an encouraging 2013 that saw him take a podium finish en route to tenth in the series.

Claudio Corti said after the deal was signed: “Once I got this proposal I had no doubt on what to choose. I am honoured to represent such a powerful brand like MV Agusta, who is officially back to racing to be a protagonist, and at the same time I feel a big responsibility on my shoulders. We have a lot of work to do in our first WSBK but I’m ready to give my best and share my experience with the team, in order to reach together the highest goals.”

MV Augusta made a promising improvement to form in 2013 after years of lacklustre racing, with both Brit Christian Iddon and Italian Robbie Rolfo taking podiums on the MV Agusta F3 675 for the Parkingo team that took Chaz Davies to the WSS title, before their switch from Yamaha.

The team are currently in Jerez testing alongside a number of WSB and WSS teams ahead of the winter testing ban coming into force.