Yamaha's withdrawal

Motorcycling

Yamaha yesterday withdrew their team from this season's World Superbike Championship after the death of their rider, Yasutomo Nagai.

Nagai died in hospital on Tuesday night from injuries sustained in a crash during Sunday's championship round at Assen, in the Netherlands, where Britain's Carl Fogarty secured the world title.

Nagai, 29, suffered severe brain damage in the accident during the penultimate lap of the race and had been kept alive on a life-support machine.

Nagai began his career on mini-bikes and in 1989 signed for Yamaha, who are making their first appearance in the world superbike championship this year.