2018 proved to be a massive season for Yamaha in the junior ranks with a 14-rider GYTR YJR team taking multiple state and national championships as well as the introduction of the all new YZ65, an updated YZ85 and now there are no signs of slowing down in 2019.
While others are scaling back, its pedal to the metal for the GYTR Yamaha Junior Teams again hitting a track new you with a national 14 rider line up, an updated pit presence and the momentum of the bLU cRU program behind them.
With a season of racing on the YZ65, some valuable seat time on the updated YZ85, the all new YZ250F and the world’s most under rated bike, the YZ125, the GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing riders are armed with the best fleet of bikes in junior racing.
New rider additions to the rider line up are Kipp Adams, Jay Jennings, Jake Rumens and Jobe Dunne who will team up with existing YJR riders to make for a massive show of force at junior events around the nationals.
The full rider line up is;
WA: Cody Chittick (YZ125 and YZ250F) / Jake Turner (YZ125 and YZ250F) / Jake Rumens (YZ65 and YZ85SW)
SA: Alex Larwood (YZ125 and YZ250F) / Wil Carpenter (YZ85SW)
VIC: Kipp Adams (YZ125 and YZ250F) / Jobe Dunne (YZ65 and YZ85SW)
TAS: Angus Pearce (YZ85LW) / Jay Jennings (YZ65 / YZ85SW)
NSW: Bayley Clancy (YZ125 and YZ250F) / Ryder Kingsford (YZ85LW and YZ125) / Kayd Kingsford (YZ65 and YZ85SW)
QLD: Levi Roger (YZ125 and YZ250F) / Jake Cannon (YZ65 and YZ85SW)
And just when you think there is enough blue in the pits, add to that a proposed four round YZ65 Cup in conjunction with the MX Nationals, more YZ65 Cup action at supercross rounds, junior support classes at national events plus the Australian Junior Motocross Championship and it will make for a busy year for the Yamaha junior stars of tomorrow.
2019 marks the final year in the program for three riders who have been in the team since 2013. Alex Larwood, Bayley Clancy and Levi Rogers have all been at Yamaha Junior Racing since getting picked up when they were just nine years old. Between the trio now are countless national, state and regional championships over the years and a great working relationship within Yamaha.
“This season will be the 14th year since the Yamaha Junior Racing program went national with a team in each state. In a time where teams come and go pretty quickly, it is a credit to Yamaha Australia and their passion to unearth and develop riders that YJR continues to be as strong and successful as it is,” explains Scott Bishop.
“We have tweaked the set up and structure of the teams a little over the time but the philosophy of Yamaha Junior Racing remains the same. We have a group of great people who are at the track and on hand to mentor these riders in each state and fast track their progress in racing. On top of that, we want them to be good sports and conduct themselves professionally off the track and we value that at Yamaha.
“2018 was such a big year for us with the introduction of the 65 and the reception of that bike and the Yamaha initiatives has been over whelming. But we aren’t prepared to rest on our laurels and the hard-working team at Yamaha Australia have plenty of things in the pipeline for 2019 and we now have representation in almost every junior category.
“Let’s go racing,” Bishop ends.