Yamaha UK-Dixon Racing have signed 26 year old Australian Andrew McFarlane to their squad for 2004.

McFarlane and new team-mate, 19 year old Billy McKenzie, will ride the MX2 class, formerly known as the 125 category.

The pair will ride Rinaldi Yamaha YZ250F four-stroke machinery.  Twenty six year old McFarlane will be one of several riders competing in the World Championship to receive the full factory support of Yamaha Europe and the Rinaldi Group who are based in Italy.

One of the longest running Grand Prix teams, the Yamaha UK team from their base near Southampton, England has had a long and successful relationship with Yamaha Europe and the Rinaldi Group, enjoying much success with National Championship glory and at top level GP racing with wins by former team members Paul Malin, Carl Nunn and Brian Jorgensen.

For McFarlane it will be a chance to work with some of the familiar faces again, Team Rinaldi first noticed the talented ‘Aussie’ and introduced him to his new European life back in 2001 when he joined Rinaldi for his first assault on the 500cc GP circuit, he took to the podium several times before moving to the 250cc and MXGP class at the end of that year.

Manager Steve Dixon is very excited with his new signing, “I am delighted to have been able to sign a rider of Andrew’s calibre, he is no stranger to working with Yamaha and Rinaldi machinery. The new MX2 class, formerly the 125cc class is going to be a very tough class next year, it was always lingering in the shadows of the MXGP class but I think now the two categories will provide equal interest with the world championship reverting back to the two moto format. Andrew will join us in January of 2004 when Billy Mackenzie will also be fully recovered from his serious foot injury, we can start working together with one common goal, to win both the World and British Championships for Yamaha and the rest of our team’s loyal sponsors.”

McFarlane, who is to wed girlfriend Natalie in October, was equally enthused about the move, “I see the move to the MX2 class as a new challenge in my life, I have worked with Michelle Rinaldi and Yamaha before so I know just how professional and dedicated they are to winning championships, they have a high opinion of Steve Dixon and the efforts that he puts into the sport. I have put a lot of effort into my racing since moving to Europe three years ago, I have enjoyed the past two season with Jan De Groot and Team Kawasaki Racing but I feel that a fresh challenge is what I need, my results have improved with each ride this season, moving over the Yamaha 250f four stroke I am confident that success will not be far away. I will continue to live and train in Belgium where I have established a home and base, I will commute to British races and to Steve Dixon’s workshop when needed for testing.”

As well as competing in a 16 round Grand Prix series, McFarlane and Mackenzie, the ‘Mac Attack Team‘ will also race in the British Motocross Championship, one of the most demanding and competitive series in the world with its top international line up of riders from Europe, the USA, South Africa, Asia and New Zealand.