The Outback Impact Proves We Have The World’s Best Techs
Australia’s Lincoln Brien has secured an exceptional second place at Yamaha’s 2025 World Technician Grand Prix (WTGP), delivering a podium result on the global stage for Chris Watson Motorcycles and Yamaha Motor Australia & New Zealand.
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The 2025 WTGP title went to Liam Coffey from the United Kingdom representing QBS Powersports in Essex.
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Held at the Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. global head office in Iwata, Japan, the WTGP brought together 22 elite technicians from 19 countries and regions. Each finalist had won their way through national and regional Technician Grand Prix events, emerging from a global network of more than 35,000 Yamaha Motor Technical Academy (YTA)-certified technicians.
Representing the Oceania region, Lincoln, who works as a senior technician at Chris Watson Motorcycles in Cessnock NSW, excelled across a gruelling schedule of technical and customer-service challenges to claim the runner up spot and the title of a world beating Yamaha motorcycle technician.
Lincoln's journey to Iwata began earlier this year at Yamaha Motor Australia’s Wetherill Park headquarters, where he triumphed at the 2025 Oceania Technician Grand Prix (OTGP). After several near misses in his 16-year career, including a runner-up finish in 2019, his breakthrough OTGP victory earned him the right to represent Oceania at WTGP 2025.
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Choosing the nickname “The Outback Impact” for his 2025 WTGP campaign, Lincoln is a lifelong Yamaha enthusiast and fanatical adventure rider who has built a reputation for solving the toughest workshop challenges. “In the lead-up I just wanted to do everyone proud and hopefully sneak onto the podium,” he explained. “To stand there in Japan with a World Technician Grand Prix trophy in my hands is unbelievable. Years of training, late nights and devotion to Yamaha have really paid off.”
The WTGP competition day began with an opening ceremony inside Yamaha’s Communication Plaza, where finalists were introduced and welcomed by Yamaha Motor president Mr. Motofumi Shitara, before moving into the competition area. Once on the workshop floor, each technician was presented with a Yamaha motorcycle, a fault scenario and strict time limits. Brien says his confidence lifted the moment he saw the task.
“As soon as I read the description of what was wrong with the bike, I relaxed a bit because I’ve been around that model for a long time,” he said. “Interesting, there turned out to be three separate faults hidden in there, and I ended up running the clock right down to zero, but I trusted my process and just kept working through it. Right at the end I was still wiping and cleaning mirrors, I think I gave my family and friends watching the live online streaming a bit of anxiety running the clock to the last seconds,” he laughed. “I felt like I’d done well.
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After the hands-on diagnostic and repair phase, competitors switched into customer-service mode, explaining the work undertaken to Yamaha Service staff member acting as a customer. Lincoln explained the issues found and the condition of the bike in the simulated handover which was scored by judges who watched and listened on.
With the hard work done, the technicians made their way to the presentation ceremony were Lincoln admits the nerves hit harder than any time during the challenge. “My goal coming here was a podium, anywhere on that podium and I was going to be stoked,” he said. “When they announced third place and it wasn’t me, the heart rate definitely went up. Then they called my name for second and I was just so happy and relieved. It was an amazing feeling.”
Lincoln was also quick to point out that the journey was not just about him. “It’s been a team effort from day one. I’d really like to thank my wife Lizzie, Arren Dwyer, and everyone at Yamaha Motor Australia and New Zealand, and the whole crew at Chris Watson Motorcycles. I can’t wait to get back and celebrate with them once this Japan trip wraps up.”
Yamaha Motor Australia NSW Land Mobility Field Service Representative Arren Dwyer, who supported Brien on the ground in Japan, said the moment the results were announced it was a mixture of excitement and relief. “Sitting there waiting for the announcement I was petrified,” Arren recalled. “When I saw America came third I knew that we were definitely in front of America and things started to heat up a lot then, and when his name was called I almost jumped out of my seat and scream for him, but I kept it together. He’s done sensationally and has done everyone at YMA proud.”
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WTGP is more than a competition; it is a celebration of Yamaha’s YTA training system that underpins the brand’s global aftersales network. Only technicians who have already proven themselves in national and regional Technician Grand Prix events are invited to Yamaha’s World Technician Grand Prix, and each receives a once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete for the title of world No.1.