Yamaha 60th Anniversary Celebrations
Yamaha celebrates 60 – Travelling roadshow tours the nation
Show will feature models from target market specific to each area
Yamaha is 60 and to celebrate YMA has organised a travelling roadshow truck complete with vintage model display.
The truck has set out across the nation to inform customers of the unique benefits of the tuning fork brand by telling our story of innovation over the last 60 years.
The first event took place at Chris Watson Motorcycles in Cessnock, NSW and featured the 60th anniversary display truck plus a range of vintage models including the first YZ – a YZ250 owned and ridden by Stephen Gall back in 1974, the first monoshock machine (YZ250) and the first dual purpose motorcycle (DT1).
A host of Yamaha motorcycling legends were in attendance to greet the crowd and sign a limited edition poster including Mister Motocross champions Stephen Gall and Craig Dack, enduro legend Geoff Ballard and road race champions Kevin Curtain and Kevin Magee.
A sausage sizzle, live music, bouncy castle, face painting and special 60th anniversary TT-R50E giveaway ensured the big crowds – estiomated at a constant 300 all day – were kept entertained.
Why celebrate 60?
We are celebrating in order to highlight Yamaha’s history of innovation over 60 years. Innovation that is unique to Yamaha and so defines what is different about the tuning fork brand.
It’s 60 years since the first bike rolled out of Iwata – and won on debut at Mount Fuji. Racing has been in our DNA ever since and it’s this spirit of challenge that drives everything Yamaha does.
Yamaha’s innovations were forged in the white heat of competition and fine tuned in our production models – so that every model benefits.
Our spirit of challenge drives championship winning performance and brings rewards for our customers. It helps Yamaha stay ahead of the pack.
Legend Yamaha riders – A collection of celebrated Yamaha riders attended the event, these are:
- Craig Dack Multi national title winning MX rider including concurrent four times Mister Motocross and owner of Australia’s most successful MX race team, Craig Dack Racing
- Stephen Gall Four time Mister Motocross, Yamaha MX and ATV coach and lifelong Yamaha ambassador
- Geoff Ballard Australia’s most decorated motorcycle rider and long time Yamaha enduro competitor and team owner
- Geoff Taylor Yamaha DT1 national championship winner and Yamaha dealer
- Mike Landman Legendary Victorian dirt bike competitor and national MX title winner
- Gary Benn CDR chief technician with years of world MX team experience. Instrumental in many of the technical developments on Yamaha dirt bikes
- Kevin Curtain Multi-Australian national title winning road racer and WSB competitor
- Kevin Magee Talented Grand Prix road racer who competed at the highest level and won – on Yamahas
- Cameron Taylor National MX champion and Y-AIM Academy coach
Also attending the inaugural event – CDR riders Kade Mosig and Dan Reardon. Man on the mic was MotoGP pit rover Mark Bracks.
Legend Yamaha models on display
- YZ250A First model YZ owned, ridden and restored by Stephen Gall
- YZ250 CDR Craig Dack’s 1992 factory racing two-stroke
- YZ450F Rinaldi CDR Darryl King factory racer from 2005
- XTZ600 Tenere First ADV bike
- DT1 First dual purpose bike
- YZ250B First monoshock
- TT500 Re-ignited four-stroke off road category
- RZ500 V4 two-stroke developed directly from Kenny Roberts winning race bike
- XS650 1977 version of the first four-stroke (1970 XS1)
- YZF-R1 Formula OZ Kev Curtain’s title winning bike
- YZF-R1 50th anniversary R1
- YZ80A First junior racer from 1974
- YZ490 Iconic big bore two-stroke MX bike
- YZ465 New direction in power and suspension
- YZ450F 50th anniversary YZ450F
- XT500 First Dakar winner
- WR450F 2Trac Rare 2WD machine
Check out http://www.yamahamotorsports.com.au/60years to find out more about Yamaha’s 60th anniversary and the travelling roadshow itinerary.
Check out http://www.yamahamotorsports.com.au/60years to find out more about Yamaha’s 60th anniversary and the travelling roadshow itinerary.
