Since retiring from racing, AJ Roberts has turned to managing Yamaha’s off road team in Australia and has built up and powerful and well credentialled team over the past 10 years. With a massive model line up to choose from, everything from the YZ-F, to the YZ-FX to the WR-F, the team has all the tools at their disposal to cater for any off road or endurance event on any surface or conditions.
Events throughout the year include the Australian Off Road Championship, ran over 12 rounds as well as the Australian Four Day Enduro as well as other high profile events like the Hattah desert race, the calendar is a busy one for the team that sees them travel all over Australia.
Also under the guidance of Roberts is the development or step up programs in off road. The Shop Yamaha team is the pinnacle but just below that is the Yamaha bLU cRU Support team that offers riders a significant level of support as they climb the ranks of off road racing.
Team Personnel
Manager: AJ Roberts
Technicians: Branden Frail / Marcel Buys / Andrew Bacon
Team Profiles
Josh Green
Michael Driscoll
Kyron Bacon
Blake Hollis
Josh Green is now the experienced veteran of the Australian Off Road scene but at the ripe old age of 31, shows no signs of slowing down. Green has international experienced as he has raced at the highest levels of off road racing in Europe and cabinet full of national championships. He is also loyal and now in his 10th year with not just Yamaha, but the Shop Yamaha team, as he continues to improve as a rider with each passing season. He will again contest the E2 class.
Michael Driscoll is now in his prime to establish himself as one of the elite riders in the Australian Off-Road scene. His big frame is now matched with a mature racing mind and he is ready to contend for the AORC and A4DE crowns this year. Mounted on the thundering Yamaha 450, he showed in the shortened 2021 season, that he is capable of mixing it with the best and now with a solid off season behind him and the full support of the ShopYamaha Off Road Team, Driscoll is ready to take the mantle of the premier off road rider in Australia.
The young gun of Australian off road. He is fast, he is aggressive, and he is on the edge. The Tasmania based rider takes no prisoners out on the trail and is one of the most exciting riders to watch with his all or nothing approach. When others think to shut it down, Bacon is just winding it on, and his tactics has proven to be successful as he has quickly climbs the ladder in Australian off road and is out to claim his first E1 championship in 2022. The two- year break has done nothing to curb his enthusiasm and Bacon is ready to unleash, now with full Yamaha support.
Hollis is the youngest member of the team and recently moved up to Queensland to be closer to the team and learn more about rider, training and bike preparation. Coming from a motocross background, Hollis continues to learn the ropes but has shown he can adapt to the rigours of off road by already claiming several podiums at national events since his switch. He is quiet off the bike but is a sponge when learning the ins and outs for off road. He will contest the E2 class alongside Kyron Bacon and the team are hoping for plenty of 1-2 results in the coming years.
