Yamaha Junior Racing Unleashed In 2011

Izac Maule will be joined by his brother Oscar in the SA YJR

Yamaha Motor Australia is proud to announce the upgrading and revamping of their successful Yamaha Junior Development Teams for the 2011 season.

Formerly known as Yamaha Junior Development Team, Yamaha's junior motocross support will be called, Yamaha Junior Racing (YJR) for 2011 and beyond, maintaining the best management, team infrastructure and advice Yamaha can provide for their future motocross stars.

Across five states, Yamaha will again support and develop future motorcycle racing talent with their Yamaha Junior Racing Program in 2011. It is still the largest network of support in junior racing and unmatched by other manufacturers.

Since its nationwide inception in 2006, Yamaha has unearthed some of Australia's fastest rising stars of motocross and the trend is set to continue in 2011 with a revamped effort from Yamaha Motor Australia and each their state branches.

"Junior development is a very important part of any sport," comments Yamaha's Ray Howard. "They are the future life line and at Yamaha we take a very pro active role in developing young riders and placing them in the best surroundings possible for their racing future."

"Each state has its own team and team manager and therefore a more hands on approach are given to the riders and their families. Our state managers are ex-professional riders and experienced coaches that are dedicated to the success of the riders and teams," Howard finishes.

The 2011 lineup is as follows.

Yamaha Junior Racing; Western Australia
Team Manager: Peter Strickland
Riders: Matt Fabry YZ 85cc / Shelley Connor YZ 125/ Kyle Webster YZ250F/ Jayden Rykers YZ250F

Yamaha Junior Racing; South Australia
Team Manager: Shane Metcalfe
Riders: Oscar MauleYZ85 SW / Izak Maule YZ125 / Damon Hill YZ250F- YZ125

Yamaha Junior Racing; Victoria
Team Manager: Ross Beaton
Riders: Matt Hopkins- Talty YZ85-YZ125 /Joel Milesevic YZ 125 /Billy Jackson YZ250F

Yamaha Junior Racing; New South Wales
Team Manager: Shane Booth
Riders: Jordan Bissaker YZ 144-YZ250F /Mackenzie Tricker YZ 250F /Brendon Walther YZ 85

Yamaha Junior Racing; Queensland
Team Manager: Scott Bishop
Riders: Joel Dinsdale YZ250F - YZ125 / Wilson Todd YZ85 -YZ125.

All teams will compete in a range of local and state based events before converging on Murray Bridge in South Australia for the 2011 Australian Junior Motocross Championships later in the year.

Yamaha Restructure Victorian MX Division

Cameron Taylor, Y-AIM

Worldly experienced Cameron Taylor and young gun Ross Beaton have both taken up high profile roles with Yamaha Victoria for the 2011 season.

Both long time Yamaha riders, Taylor and Beaton will be used in coaching and team management roles respectively and the move continues Yamaha's position to utilise riders throughout their careers in a variety of roles to develop themselves and future Yamaha riders.

Cameron Taylor stood down from professional racing at the end of the 2009 season with a long list of victories under his belt. That hands on race knowledge leaves him perfectly qualified for his new role as the head coach of Yamaha - Australia's Institute of Motocross (Y-Aim) in Victoria.

Taylor will take his knowledge on the road in 2011 with a heap of riding schools around the state, catering for anyone from a first time racer to a full time professional.

"I have been looking for something to move into since I stopped racing fulltime and this position with Y-Aim is perfect for me," Taylor states.

"I get a real kick out of helping riders along in their careers and I still get do to something that I love and enjoy - that's ride!"

"I have the best of both worlds and have plenty of things planned for my schools," Taylor finishes.

Y-aim Victoria kicks off in April with a riding school at the Wonthaggi Circuit on April 13.

Taylor now joins fellow ex-professional racers, Chris Urquhart, Shane Booth and Shane Metcalfe in the Y-Aim fold with this team of coaches offering the most comprehensive motocross knowledge available.

To contact any Y-aim coach please visit; www.urkymx.com.au / www.shaneboothmx.com / www.shanemetcalfe.com  , while www.camerontaylormx.com is currently under construction. 

Ross Beaton will take up the role of Yamaha Junior Racing Manager in Victoria. Beaton, fresh from his second place overall in the Under 19 class at the MX Nationals in 2010, will impart his racing knowledge on Yamaha's next generation as he works with his three rider team for the 2011 season.

The mature for his age Beaton relates well to the younger riders and they have plenty to learn from the well travelled racer who will also continue competing himself and passing on the information that only a racer can.

"I was floored when I was offered this position but couldn't say yes fast enough. To have the opportunity to work with talented riders and see them grow will be extremely rewarding and I can't wait for the season to get under way," Beaton offers.

Credits: Damien Ashenhurst / Yamaha