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Loris Baz Is the Absolute MotoGP Rookie, Will Ride NGM Forward's Yamaha

NGM Forward Racing Yamaha has completed the two-rider line-up with the addition of a complete rookie in the Grand Prix races, in the person of Loris Baz. A well-known name in World Superbike, the Frenchman is however a complete noob when it comes to not only premier class racing, but to any of the classes in the GP championship. Baz has already gotten a taste of what's to come at the test in Valencia.
Loris Baz and his NGM Forward Racing crew 3 photos
Photo: Loris Baz
Loris Baz' NGM YamahaLoris Baz and his team in Valencia
That’s right, Baz will move directly for WSBK to MotoGP, and has absolutely no previous (official) experience with the new series. He will be riding the Open Class version of the Yamaha M1, and will be Stefan Brad’s team mate at NGM. Both riders will attempt to show their skills using bikes which are more or less like the ones ridden by Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo in the past season.

Yamaha YZR-M1 heritage as a very solid basis for 2015 racing action

Obviously, there are certain major differences from the works prototypes with the most important two being the absence of the seamless gear box and the fact that the NGM Yamahas will carry the Open Class software.

Of course, there are more points where the factory and the customer M1 differ, but we have seen how good the latter bike is when ridden by a strong pilot. Aleix Espargaro, who is currently a factory rider for Suzuki, has clinched yet another Open Class title in 2014 aboard the M1-powered NGM bike, got his first career pole and battled really close to the top positions.

One of the tallest riders in MotoGP

It will be really interesting to see how Baz will fit behind the bike’s bubble screen, since he’s most likely the tallest of all the 2015 riders. It’s no secret that Scott Redding (1.85m or just under 6’1”) was until now considered a fairly large guy for premier class racing action. However, at 1.92m (more than 6’3”), Loris Baz is taking things to a new level… literally.

Even though his chances for a race win are slim to say the least, can you picture Loris Baz near Dani Pedrosa, who is the shortest of the MotoGP, on the third step of the podium?

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