Yamaha Racing Update: Mechanic in MXGP and more

Mechanic in MXGP

We often celebrate when a rider gets an opportunity to race on the world stage. But what often flies under the radar is the Australian mechanics that work in various championships around the world. Our latest spanner man to head overseas is Nash Ihle, who, after four years working with the Yamalube Yamaha Team in motocross, boarded a plane last Thursday to go to Belgium and work with Maxime Renaux and the factory Yamaha MXGP team. Ihle, in his four years with Yamaha in Australia, made several trips across to Europe, assisting Charli Cannon throughout the 2022 and 2023 seasons as well as working with the Dean Ferris and the Australian Motocross of Nations team in 2023.

He made plenty of connections while there and now gets the chance to further his knowledge and experience by working with the world’s best riders in Europe. And for a bit of useless trivia, when Hunter Lawrence first got his big break into the world scene in 2015 when he finished third in the world junior championships on a YZ125, Maxime was the winner of that class that year. The Australian mechanics in both Europe and the US have a great reputation and often teams reach out to mechanics in Australia when searching for someone as they have a good work ethic and a passion for racing. Many mechanics have gone on to have long and successful careers and we wish Ihle the best on his next adventure.

Around the grounds

GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing’s Jobe Dunne has secured the 2024 Victorian Junior Motocross Championship with victory in the 125cc class at the fourth and final round of the championship at Colac over the weekend. Dunne entered the final round with a handy points lead but wasn’t about to mail it in for the win, instead stamped his authority on the series with the perfect three race wins from three starts to claim the state championship on his mighty YZ125. He backed that up with a second place in the 250cc championship, coming just five points short of doing the double. Dunne DNF’ed a race at one of the earlier rounds and has been playing catch up ever since. He finished the day with 1-2-1 results to take the round win, his third round win in the four-round series, but was short of securing another state championship. “The weekend went really well and I’m happy with how I’m riding,” Dunne said. I was in good shape in the 125 class so there wasn’t too much pressure there, but it was the 250 were I really needed some luck to go my way. “Unfortunately, it didn’t happen, but I did the best I could, and it was just that DNF that really hurt,” he ended.

Meanwhile over in the West, Jake Rumens on his South-West Yamaha YZ250F won the Western Australian state championship after a gruelling five round championship. Rumens, who focused on his local WA scene in 2024, cashed in with an impressive victory in the MX2 class and showing speed and maturity in his riding. He also double classed it through the championship and stood on the podium in the MX1 division with a second-place finish. “What a weekend in Northam,” Rumens offered. “It’s been an awesome year of racing, and I’m pumped to not just win the MX2 championship but also be on the podium for my first year in MX1. I have a lot of people who helped me this year and its cool to win it with them and for them.”

Words and Image: Yamaha Australia