Dominique Aegerter will remain within the Yamaha stable for the 2024 WorldSBK Championship after the Japanese firm extended his contract for another season.

The double WorldSSP Champion and 2022 MotoE World Cup title winner made his WorldSBK debut in Yamaha colours this season as part of the satellite GYTR GRT outfit.

Currently ninth in the overall standings and second in the independents’ reckoning with a best result of fourth at Assen, Aegerter has comfortably out-performed fellow rookie and 2021 Moto2 World Champion Remy Gardner this year.

>>> 2023 WorldSBK Championship Standings <<<

As such, Yamaha has moved early to confirm him to its line-up, though the manufacturer’s communication carefully avoids stating whether he will again compete with GRT, an alternative satellite effort or, potentially, be promoted to its full factory line-up to replace Toprak Razgatlioglu.

“I’m happy and proud to have extended my agreement with Yamaha to stay in WorldSBK with my R1 in 2024. I have two WorldSSP titles with Yamaha, but now my aim is to improve my results and be more competitive in the WorldSBK class, and I’ll give my best to achieve that goal. 

“My season started quite well as a rookie, and although I haven’t been on the podium yet, there are still a few races to go, and I’ve had some great battles on track that have taught me a lot. I want to be at the front regularly, and that will be my focus for next season.”

Coming just days after GRT founder Mirko Giansanti passed away following a long illness, Aegerter took the time to pay tribute to the late Grand Prix podium winner.

“I’d like to thank Yamaha for their continued faith in me and everyone who has helped put me in this position, and among them I would especially like to remember Mirko Giansanti who recently passed away and who played an invaluable role in the GRT Yamaha Team.”

As it stands, Yamaha has filled one of its factory positions with the re-signing of Andrea Locatelli, leaving the second berth vacant for now. Incumbent Razgatlioglu will join the BMW Motorrad factory team for 2024.