Ben's Starring Role
Yamaha Motor Australia's Internal Sales Consultant, Benjamin Cade, may have only been with the company for just one year, but the 21-year-old has already become the star of the show - literally.
A Japanese film crew from Yamaha Motor Company recently visited Down Under to shoot a global film highlighting the amazing lifestyle available to Australia's Yamaha family. The Yamaha Motor Journey storyline required the inclusion of members from the emerging generation of Yamaha-for-life customers. Young Benjamin fit the bill perfectly and was cast to star alongside Japanese actors Mizuki Sashide and Rei Fukuchi, as well as Australia's queen of off-road racing, Jess Gardiner.
Watch the Australian-themed Yamaha Motor Journey film
"Enjoying dinner with the Japanese team was a real honour,"
"I grew up in a Yamaha family," revealed Ben, explaining how his lifelong association with Yamaha made him a perfect candidate for the film. "My brothers and I all learned to ride on a Yamaha PW50 as soon as we could climb onto one. I've been with Yamaha ever since, working my way up to a YZ450F as well as a WR450F Aussie Edition," he added. "My dad has always had more than a few Yamahas tucked away in his shed, so a love for the brand has always been there."
Being involved in a multi-day ride and global film production was an eye-opening experience for Ben, delivering a few firsts.
"It was my first-time riding in the Southern Highlands region of NSW," revealed Ben, "Every road was awesome, and riding across the Sea Cliff Bridge was brilliant with its spectacular views. I just cruised along, taking it all in and thinking about how amazing it is to work for a company that designs and builds products that deliver such an enjoyable lifestyle - it really was a Kando moment."
"I grew up in a Yamaha family, a love for the brand has always been there"
While the riding was spectacular, Ben said the highlights of the unique opportunity were meeting and working with co-workers from the Yamaha Motor Japan office, dealing with a professional film crew and actors, and riding with Yamaha's off-road racing queen Jess Gardiner"
"Enjoying dinner with the Japanese team was an amazing opportunity and a real honour," Ben said. "I learned so much about life in Japan and working for Yamaha's head office. Throwing Jess Gardiner into the mix made it an almost surreal experience. I've followed Jess' racing career for a long time, so to be able to spend some time talking to her about her amazing racing career and her off-road coaching, and then to go riding alongside her for a couple of days, was so cool."
Watch Ben's Logie-worthy performance in the first of three Australian-themed Yamaha Motor Journey films here.
To enjoy more pictures and stories of inspiring personal travel experiences with Yamaha Motor products, visit the Resonating Worlds web page.
Learn more about the Yamaha YZF-R7 Ben uses as his daily rider. Available in LAMS approved or High Output (HO) specifications.