Yamaha/Haga turn backs on WSBK.

The World Superbike Championship was dealt a double blow on Friday when Yamaha released an official statement announcing their withdrawal from the 2001 World Superbike and World Supersport Championship.

The factory WSB team came ever so close to securing their first World Superbike Championship this ear with the ever spectacular Noriyuki Haga although the Japanese rider's exclusion from the opening round of the series at Kyalami back in April after failing a drugs test and his subsequent ban from the final round of the series at Brands Hatch in October where he could have taken the World title away from Colin Edwards appears to have forced Yamaha to "reorganize our priorities" for the upcoming season.

The 'Haga Saga' became an increasingly big black spot during a year where Superbike Racing as a whole flourished and a matter that should have been dealt with in the opening weeks of the year, was not resolved until the rider was actually in London on his way to Brands Hatch just one day before practice was due to begin.

Haga, who seemed to be very upset at the manner in which his case was handled by the FIM, has been confirmed as Garry McCoy's partner in the Red Bull Yamaha Grand Prix outfit next year and with up to nine Yamaha's on the 500cc grid next season Yamaha's withdrawal from WSBK, whether temporary or permanent, did not come as a total shock.

The firm will continue to supply parts for all their current privateer teams and the ever improving Yamaha YZF-R7 will continue to be developed if and when the marque elect to make a return to the WSBK scene.

As opposed to Haga, the future of the second factory Yamaha WSBK rider, Italian Vittoriano Guareschi, is not so clear. The former World Supersports standout has failed to impress n his two years with the Yamaha WSB outfit and he was not expected to stay with the team next year even if they were competing. A move back into WSS is unlikely and he may well find himself heading to the burgeoning British Superbike Championship.