Set to Represent Oceania at the Tech World Titles in Japan
Lincoln Brien, from Chris Watson Motorcycles in NSW, has claimed victory at the 2025 Yamaha Oceania Technician Grand Prix (OTGP), held recently at Yamaha Motor Australia’s headquarters in Wetherill Park.
After multiple near misses throughout his 16-year career as a Yamaha technician, finishing runner-up in 2019, Lincoln finally clinched the prestigious title and will represent Oceania at the World Technician Grand Prix (WTGP) in Japan later this year.
The OTGP, established in 2001, has become the must-win event in Yamaha’s technical community, designed to recognise and celebrate the most skilled technicians across the Oceania region. This year, a slightly revised format saw ten of Australasia’s top Yamaha technicians compete for the chance to showcase their abilities on a global stage in Japan.
Throughout a challenging day, participants rotated through a series of workstations under the watchful eye of a panel of expert judges. Among those observing was Yukio Tanaka, General Manager of Service at Yamaha Motor Company’s head office in Japan, who attended to see the technicians in action. Competitors demonstrated their skills in a range of areas, including hands-on diagnostics, fault-finding, electrical testing, mechanical repairs, theory-based assessments, and customer service situations that mirror their everyday duties in a dealership service centre.
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Lincoln narrowly edged out second-placed Tim Saint from Yamaha Pitmans (SA) with third-placed William Mason from Brisan Motorsports (NSW) rounding out the podium. Lincoln’s consistent dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence finally paid off, claiming the goal he set himself many years ago.
Reflecting on the win, Lincoln said, “Honestly, I’m over the moon. After coming so close before, to finally take this out feels incredible. I’ve put everything into this over the years, late nights, training, studying every detail, and to stand here today with the trophy, knowing I’ll be representing Australia and Oceania in Japan, is a dream come true.”
Lincoln, a lifelong adventure-riding enthusiast and keen rider of Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 model, was Inspired by his father’s own path as a technician. Throughout his career he has developed a reputation for diagnosing the trickiest faults and finding creative solutions. “It’s all about understanding what riders need and what their machines are telling you,” he explained. “If you can bring those things together, you make a real difference to their experience, that’s what keeps me motivated.”
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Trevor Forbes, Division Manager – Service at Yamaha Motor Australia, was quick to praise Lincoln and all the OTGP contestants. “On behalf of Yamaha Motor Australia, I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations to Lincoln on a tremendous victory. The OTGP celebrates the outstanding technical excellence and innovation within our industry, and Lincoln is a perfect example of that. We also recognise Tim and William, whose exceptional skills and professionalism helped make this one of the most memorable competitions to date.”
He also highlighted the event’s ability to showcase the dedication of Yamaha Technicians from across Australia and New Zealand. “All of the participants invest so much of themselves to deliver the very best service to our customers. Their passion is incredible and plays a crucial role in supporting the trust our customers place in Yamaha every day.”
Managing Director Darryl Lovegrove, who also joined staff in the spectator gallery during the day, said: “The Oceania Technician Grand Prix is a wonderful reminder that our brand strength comes not only from the quality of our products, but from the skill and passion of the broader Yamaha community, dealer and YMA staff alike. Congratulations to Lincoln on a well-deserved win, proving that persistence does deliver. Thank you to everyone involved for delivering such a professional event.”
Lincoln will now prepare to test his skills against the world’s very best at the 2025 WTGP, to be held on November 19 at Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.’s YTA Centre in Japan. The WTGP is Yamaha’s premier global technician event, drawing champions from 19 countries to compete across two classes and in areas ranging from complex technical problem-solving to customer-relations excellence.
The road to Japan will be a busy one for Lincoln, balancing workshop life, family time, and the intense preparation required for WTGP. “Every time I’ve entered the OTGP, I’ve learned something,” Lincoln said. “Now I get to take everything I’ve learned and give it my best shot on the world stage. I’m proud to be representing Oceania and Chris Watson Motorcycles.”