The Yamaha World Supersport Team is without doubt one of the leading squads in the championship.

The team has a tremendous reputation in the 600cc class, consistently placing their bikes among the front runners and last year was no exception. 2007 was Parkes’ third season with the Germany-based Yamaha squad and two wins as well as three other podium finishes and some gutsy riding was enough to secure championship second for the young Australian.

Borne out of the team originally operated by Yamaha Germany, the squad was brought under the wing of Yamaha Motor Europe at the start of 2007. Managed by Dutchman Wilco Zeelenberg, a former Supersport and GP rider himself, the team has a very international feel to it with team members from Britain, Germany, France, Australia and Sweden. Despite the varying backgrounds of the personnel, the team is a close-knit unit - combining the stereotypical German efficiency with a fun loving attitude that reflects well with that of the riders.

Still based at Yamaha Motor Germany's headquarters in Neuss, the team carries out most of its development work in-house to extract maximum performance from their R6s. The modern facilities include a sophisticated test bench to allow the team to work with maximum efficiency.
Key personnel in the team include highly respected engine builder Markus Eschenbacher and Ben Parkinson - the Englishman who acts as Parkes' chief mechanic.