Speculation is apparently rife in the World Superbike Championship (WSBK) paddock that Yamaha is to scale down its efforts in 2010, leading to the possible abandonment of its title-winning World Supersport (WSS) operation – and the loss of a third of its workforce.

Yamaha triumphed in all four major motorcycling series' in 2009 – MotoGP with Valentino Rossi, WSBK with Ben Spies, WSS with Cal Crutchlow and British Superbikes (BSB) with Leon Camier – but Visordown reports that Yamaha Motor Italia is going through a restructuring process that will likely result in the loss of 66 of its 200 staff members, due to a downturn in business.

That has led to rumours that on the WSBK bill at least, the only representation will come in the form of former double champion and Tech 3 MotoGP refugee James Toseland and Crutchlow at the factory outfit, with no official WSS team, with whom the latter stormed to the 2009 riders' crown.