The success of the state based Yamaha Junior Development programs combined with the exciting, window to the future of the newly formed Under 19 National championship has lead Yamaha Australia to form the new GYTR/ Yamaha Development Team for the 2008 season and beyond.
Ross Beaton (Vic), Nick Geck (QLD) and Harley Quinlan (QLD) will form a three pronged attack as they contest the six round, Under 19 Rockstar MX Nationals and will continue to flag the Yamaha flag in a host of other events throughout the 2008 season.
"Our junior programs have been a tremendous success and this is just another step in advancing that program. Yamaha Australia takes pride in unearthing and developing young talented riders and this program now allows Yamaha to take riders from a local level all the way through to the factory CDR and Serco outfits, all on Yamaha machinery," explains Cheryl Muldoon, head of the Motorsports Division.
"The team will have the best equipment Yamaha can provide and we have assembled a great support base around the riders. Last year Yamaha took out three of the top four spots in the Under 19 championship, our aim is to better that for 2008," Muldoon continues.
Ross Beaton and Harley Quinlan, both 16, have been two of the best performing junior riders in Australia over the past few years. Beaton, winner of the Yamaha Development Series in 2007 and Quinlan, winner of the Craig Dack Rookies in 2006 and multi-time Queensland Champion, selected themselves and are rewarded with this ride. Nick Geck, 18, comes on board having showed he has all the skills and talent but not the stage to present them on, until now.
All three riders are excited to be on board and can‰Ûªt wait for the season to start.
"This will be a great year for me and Yamaha have made me feel like I am already part of their family. The bikes will be good and there is no reason why this team can‰Ûªt win the Under 19 championship," says the newly signed Nick Geck, who echoes the sentiments of the other riders.
The team‰Ûªs rocketships will be prepared by Yamaha Australia‰Ûªs Darren Thompson, combining the very best equipment in terms of CDR factory motor kits and GYTR quality race hard ware.
Sponsors have also been fast to jump on board with GYTR quick to snap up the naming rights. Shift, Fox, Pro Circuit, SBS, D.I.D, Unifilter, NGK, SMG and Yamalube have throwing their support behind the team and look forward to a great inaugural season. Success at Yamaha‰Ûªs state based programs means the sponsor list will continue to grow and stand by for more announcements.
This team represents the first factory effort by a manufacturer at the Under 19 level and will be the benchmark for others to match.
Yamaha‰Ûªs commitment to the Under 19 competitors doesn‰Ûªt stop with the GYTR/ Yamaha Development Team, as state supported Yamaha riders will also have access to the same knowledge and know how of the frontline team. Matt Ryan and Hamish Dobbyn will compete with support from Yamaha Victoria, Luke Styke and Keiron Hall from NSW, Jamie Bain and Sam Southey from QLD as well as Codey Von Stanke from South Australia will all fill the start line with Yamaha blue.
The Rockstar MX Nationals blast off on April 6 then work their way around the country contesting 18 motos over nine rounds with the final round held at Coolum on the Sunshine Coast in early July. The Under 19 component will be raced over six rounds starting on May 18 in New South Wales.
GYTR/ Yamaha Development team- Rider Fast Facts
Ross Beaton
Age: 16
Lives: Tasmania
Bike: YZ250F
Height: 178cms
Weight: 74kg
Favourite Track:
2007 Highlight: Winning the Yamaha Development series
2008 Goal: Win the Under 19 MX Nats
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Harley Quinlan
Age: 16
Lives: Queensland
Bike: YZ250F
Height: 168cms
Weight: 66kg
Favourite Track:
2007 Highlight: 3rd Australian Jnr MX Champs
2008 Goal: Win the Under 19 MX Nats
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Nick Geck
Age: 18
Lives: Queensland
Bike: YZ250F
Height: 175cms
Weight: 73kg
Favourite Track: Munduberra
2007 Highlight: Nothing worth mentioning.
2008 goal: Win and gain factory ride for 2009.
