Motorcycling Australia introduced an Under 19 class into the Australian Motocross Championship in 2007 as a way to keep riders in the sport as they make the transition from juniors to professional racing. At this point, Yamaha already had its top end teams of CDR and Serco Yamaha in place as well as its national junior development team catering for riders under the age of 16.
From this, Yamalube Yamaha Racing was created and the team has gone from strength to strength overt the year fast tracking the career path of many riders who have gone onto bigger and better things, nationally and internationally.
Dean Ferris, Luke Styke, Jed Beaton, Wilson Todd, and Mitch Evans have all passed through the workshop of Yamalube Yamaha before taking on the world and doing so with success. Even in 2020, the team took a development role with Japanese ace, Kota Toriyabe as part of an international rider program.
The formula is simple, work hard, train hard and reap the rewards. It has been the mantra of the team for near 15 years and will continue to be so.
Team Personnel
Team Manager: Mike Ward
Technicians: Nash Ihle / Damien Coutts
Team Profiles
Alex Larwood
Charli Cannon
Rhys Budd
A product of the ultra-successful Yamaha step up program, Larwood makes the move from YJR, to WBR and now to Yamalube Yamaha Racing as he continues to make waves in professional racing. Despite injury and covid in 2021, Larwood proved he has what it takes to mix it with the established names in the MX2 division and with another pre season under his belt and some added maturity to his racing, Larwood is aiming for the stars in 2022 and is working hard to make it happen.
With a resurgence in Women’s racing, Yamaha continues to lead the pack in support of women and have bought in four-time Australian Junior girls Motocross champion, Charli Cannon to represent the team in 2022. Cannon is fit, fast and fierce on the track and works hard at her craft. She has long been a Yamaha supported rider but this additional support from the Yamalube team now has her primed for a breakout season in which the Australian Women’s Motocross Championship is at the front of her mind.
A late comer to the team for 2021 but Budd’s dedication and high work ethic made it impossible to resist. After a successful junior career that saw him win countless titles, Budd transition into pro racing started slowly but is now beginning to show the fruit of his toil and labour. Just needing and wanting the guidance and support to make the next step, Budd is one to watch in the MX class has he is willing to do whatever it takes to reach the next stage of his career and cement himself as part of the established MX2 riders in Australia.
