Aussie Yamaha Riders Compete Across The Pond at Woodville

A handful of Yamaha supported riders headed across the ditch to contest the Woodville GP event last week. It is a long standing and prestigious motocross race on the New Zealand calendar and always announces the start of their domestic racing season.

YMA and YMNZ have a close working relationship and often supported riders get the opportunity to compete in events with the help of Yamaha teams. Jed Beaton made his first public appearance on a Yamaha and racing under the JCR Yamaha banner on the 50th anniversary model YZ450F. 

For Beaton, it was his first time behind a start gate since the final round of the 2023 ProMX championship back in August so there was bound to be a little rush as he gets back into full fitness and speed.

Beaton finished the day with 2-2-2 results to take second behind Hamish Harwood. Beaton was never far from the rear wheel of Harwood and every race the gap was under three seconds separating the pair as they raced cleared of the rest of the pack. It was a solid start to the year for Beaton who will stay on in New Zealand and work closely with Josh Coppins for the New Zealand Motocross Championships, starting next week.

“It’s been a long time between races for me and it was good to get back behind a start gate and get the intensity that only racing brings. I felt pretty good on the bike, but also think there is room for improvement and the New Zealand champs will be the perfect place to get myself and my bike 100% before the start of the ProMX championship in March,” Beaton said.

WBR Yamaha rider, Kobe Drew also went over for the event and contested the MX2 division with the help of JCR and also the Blackwood Yamaha dealership. Drew will contest the MX3 class here in Australia at the ProMX championships, but jumped into the deep end and raced the MX2 class to fast track his speed and fitness.

He finished the day with 10th overall on the back of 9-9-11 results in a hotly contested division. His starts were a little off in all three races and he had to move his way forward in each of the 20- minute races. He will take plenty from the races and continue to fine tune his skills in the lead up to round one in Australia.