Yamaha SX Team Reports
Yamaha Racing is Primed for SX Opener
8/2/2007:
After a four month wait, this weekend Yamaha Racing’s dirt bike teams of CDR/Nokia/Yamaha, Serco Yamaha and Team Seven Racing will unleash their new 2007 bikes and combat prepared riders for the opening round of the Australian Supercross Championships at Wayville Showground in South Australia.
Over the off-season Yamaha welcomed Team Seven Racing and its riders Shane Metcalfe, Kirk Gibbs and Bronte Holland to the manufacturer’s extended family. On top this, riders Daniel McCoy and Brendan Harrison joined premier Pro Lite team, Serco Yamaha.
Throughout the off-season, each team has spent considerable time in preparation for Wayville, with riders competing in state-based events and advancement made in engine development, suspension and rider health.
CDR/Nokia/Yamaha
CDR/Nokia/Yamaha Team Principal, Craig Dack outlines that his team of Cheyne Boyd, Matt Moss and Ford Dale are all primed and ready for the 2007 Australian Supercross Championships with ‘no stone left unturned’ in the youthful and experienced squad’s preparation for the racing year.
“I feel as though the team is extremely ready for the 2007 season,” Dack stated, “I’m not sure what the other teams have been doing during the off-season, however, I’m sure that our preparation is at least on par with all the other professional outfits in the sport.”
“Everybody within the team is looking forward to the 2007 season. The feel within the team is extremely positive, with Cheyne [Boyd] returning for his third year with CDR/Nokia/Yamaha and Matt [Moss] signing a long-term contract, the team continue to gel and grow stronger,” Dack added.
Boyd, Moss and Dale have all taken delivery of their brand new YZ450F’s over the off season with the team testing and finding considerable gains on a range of levels.
"The riders are exceedingly confident with their bikes and we have made a big leap forward by finding more horsepower and torque without sacrificing ride-ability. In addition to this the riders will use the new Ohlins TTX shock which has had worldwide success in Europe in America.”
“Gary Benn and his team of mechanics at CDR/Nokia/Yamaha have completed a total of 20 test days, including a week of riding with a technician from Ohlins. This is a huge commitment from the team and it certainly shows just how hungry the whole team is to obtain a national championship in 2007.”
Since January, Boyd, Moss and Dale have competed in a series of state-based events to provide each rider with the chance to measure their fitness and train in an actual race situation.
“Racing in Queensland and Orange was really good preparation for me to conduct in the off season. It has helped us iron out any bugs in the system prior to racing in the national competition and even though the tracks are a lot tighter than what we normally race on it is also good to gauge yourself after not racing for a few months, Boyd said.
Serco Yamaha
Serco Yamaha will have a point to prove at the opening round of the Australian Supercross Championship this weekend with Team Principal Gavin Eales stating that the team has the equipment for riders Daniel McCoy and Jake Moss to head the field at Wayville Showground.
“I am extremely wrapped with our rider line up this year with Daniel McCoy returning to Serco Yamaha and the Pro Lite category,” Eales outlined, “With the experience held by Daniel [McCoy] and the youthful exuberance of Jake [Moss] I believe Serco Yamaha will be a forced to be reckoned with in Supercross and Motocross in Australia.”
“Over the off-season, Serco Yamaha has invested in Kayaba suspension to ensure that our bikes are at the forefront of the field and with new advances in the 2007 YZ250F, the feedback from the riders is that they are extremely confident with their race package for this weekend.”
“All bikes this year will have a new livery which will see the bikes look as good as they perform.”
McCoy outlines that he is looking forward to his return to Yamaha after first joining Serco Yamaha in 2003.
“It is fantastic to be working with Gavin [Eales] and the whole Serco Yamaha team. Gavin has been a great force within the development of my professional career and we really work well together. I am happy to return to the Pro Lite category as it suits my riding style,” McCoy added.
“I believe I am a championship contender in the Pro Lite category and it is the first time I have felt so confident at prior to the opening round of year. I am a racer that goes out to win and I believe I can race my best on the YZ250F.”
Moss is also fully prepared for the 2007 season and after breaking his collarbone in late 2006 at Appin has spent considerable time on his cardio and weight training and has now returned to riding the bike every second day.
“I feel really fit and the bike is simply amazing. I can’t wait to race this weekend and believe Serco Yamaha crew has done everything possible to ensure we are at the front of the field when the chequered flag falls,” Moss outlined.
Serco Yamaha has also signed young Queenslander, Brendan Harrison as the team’s development rider. Unfortunately, Harrison will not compete this weekend due to injury.
Team Seven M2R Yamaha Motorsport
Shane Metcalfe, Kirk Gibbs and Bronte Holland from Team Seven M2R Yamaha Motorsport have taken delivery of their new blue uniforms and bikes and with great anticipation they will hit the whoops at Wayville this weekend to represent Yamaha.
According to Team Seven M2R Yamaha Motorsport Team Principal, Mark Haughton the riders are all looking forward to advancing the momentum established last year with their YZ450F and YZ250F machines to assist in returning the team to the pointy end of the field.
"We believe Shane Metcalfe will continue his late 2006 form resurgence as a force in Pro Open Supercross. He has been training hard over the summer months both on and off the bike and is extremely pumped to do prove a point this year aboard his Yamaha YZ450F,” Haughton.
Emerging young rider, Bronte Holland will spear head the Team Seven M2R Yamaha Motorsport’s assault on the Pro Lite Championship.
“The really exciting new signing for us this year is Bronte Holland to head our Pro Lite campaign. We cannot understand how he slipped through the cracks of the factory teams but this kid belies his 18 years. He has gained some considerable speed over the summer months and we anticipate some serious podium action going his way,” Haughton added.
Team Seven M2R Yamaha Motorsport is also taking steps to ensure the continued development of young talent with Kirk Gibbs to mount a YZ250F and train with the two experienced riders.
“Kirk Gibbs is signed as our development rider and has been in training with Shane all summer so it will be great to see where he is at in relation to last year. He could be the surprise of the Pro Lite Supercross season,” Haughton added.
