Motorcycle racing can be cruel. One minute you’re spraying champagne and the next you’re picking gravel out of your helmet. To run consistently well across a number of disciplines throughout a season or more is a big ask. But that’s just what Yamaha teams have achieved – around the globe and especially here in Australia.
High profile winners include current champions Fabio Quartararo in MotoGP, Toprak Razgatlıoglu in World Superbike, Dominique Aegerter in World Supersport, Jake Gagne in MotoAmerica Superbike and Eli Tomac in US SX. All these riders and more fly the bLU cRU flag.
It’s unusual for one brand to dominate across such a wide range of disciplines around the world taking in both tar and dirt. What’s even more unusual is in Australia Yamaha’s results have, if anything, been even more impressive.
ROAD SUCCESS
Okay, the teams are only just past the halfway mark in their respective seasons, but bLU cRU riders are hauling ass. Take road racing for example. The YZF-R1 has always been up against the much more exotic – read ‘expensive’ – Italian marques and has struggled to keep pace in previous years. But that’s all changed this year following some internal tweaks and the arrival of Mad Mike Jones to the Yamaha Race Team. Jones is currently leading the ASBK championship with some impressive wins under his belt. Yamaha is also leading the 600cc and 300cc Supersport classes, but it’s still early days, and smart racers never crow too loudly until the chequered flag has dropped.
OFF-ROAD WINNERS
Australia’s ProMX titles got off to a good start for Craig Dack’s Monster Energy team with Luke Clout continuing his winning 2021 form at Wonthaggi in Victoria. But then disaster struck at Mackay in Queensland. The team’s number-one rider, reigning champ and series leader suffered a huge crash resulting in a broken leg that ended his season early. But the team didn’t panic, instead pouring all its resources into second rider, Aaron Tanti. Tanti stepped up to the plate and currently leads the Pro MX1 class on his YZ450F. But that’s racing – where your own good fortune is often based on someone else’s misfortune. Even your teammate’s.
Yamaha is also kicking goals in the world of enduro with Shop Yamaha’s new recruit Kyron Bacon the standout performer. Bacon has been in sizzling form (sorry, Kyron) with an outright win in the gruelling Australian Four Day Enduro held in Erica, Victoria. Piloting a WR250F, Bacon also leads his class in the AORC and won the 250cc class at the super-tough Hattah Desert Race. Shop Yamaha teammate Josh Green was less fortunate at Hattah when he tangled with a backmarker and speared off into a tree. Despite knocking himself out and copping a beating over two days of intense racing in the Mallee scrub, Green managed to place second in the 450cc class.
Hattah not tough enough for you? Try the South Australian 24-Hour Reliability Trial. This is an enduro event that runs through the night – and requires some pretty trick additional lighting because of that – in freezing temperatures around Kapunda in SA. Yamaha riders finished 1-2 on the highperformance, yet reliable, WR450F.
LADIES FIRST
But it’s not all about the blokes in the bLU cRU – there are plenty of standout per formers in the women’s classes. Young MX gun Charli Cannon is currently leading the MXW class in Pro MX, Danielle Macdonald won the Junior Girls class at the A4DE and Jess Gardiner is leading the EW class of the AORC. All riders compete on the YZ/WR 250F platform that combines bulk performance with pinpoint handling.
And it’s not all about the bike either, because winners are always supported by a strong team. Teams that employ capable mechanics who can not only prep a race-winning motorcycle but can also keep it running sweetly in a high-pressure environment. Such environments are a great place for tool companies to showcase their product. Companies like Kincrome, who support the CDR Monster Energy MX team, John Redding’s Yamaha Race Team and the Jess Gardiner Racing enduro team.
GOLDEN SPANNER
Yamaha Motor Australia’s race team manager Scott Bishop – himself a former Australian national MX and SX competitor – understands the need to build an effective team with access to the best tools in order to win national championships.
“It’s been a stellar season so far, and in recognition of the largely unsung mechanics on our race teams we plan on creating a Golden Spanner trophy. This will be awarded to the crew chiefs of each championshipwinning team in 2022. Because while the rider’s do get the job done – and get rewarded with trophies for their efforts – they wouldn’t be able to do it on their own,” explains Bishop.
Keep an eye on podiums around the country as Yamaha’s bLU cRU tastes yet more champagne and wins further trophies – including the unique Australian Golden Spanner.