Rapid ReaXtion: Yamaha Team Announcement
Thursday, October 18, 2012 | 2:20 PM
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PrintJason Weigandt:
Want to know the real reason why the 250 Class is always so deep in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross? Because every top team needs two riders to race each region of Monster Energy Supercross Lites, which creates four-rider teams when everyone comes together outdoors. Four-rider teams are standard fare in the 250s, while no 450 teams ever employ that many riders.Well, Star is going with just a single rider for each SX coast--presumably Kyle Cunningham will race one side and Jeremy Martin will race another. Cooper Webb won't be on board as a pro until Hangtown. The team is taking a huge risk, because one little supercross injury will essentially grind the team to a halt, or, send them scrambling for replacements. Considering the odds of two riders making it through supercross unharmed, don't be surprised if Bobby Regan and co. have to pull out the Rolodex (or, their contact list in their phone. Does anyone have a Rolodex anymore?)
As for JGR, last year's Stewart signing was supposed to be the future, the path to the next level and potential championships. It didn't work, and now they've gone back to the past. But I think last year's season made the whole team appreciate what they had a little more--and that goes for both the team and the riders. Both Justin Brayton and Josh Grant realized they really liked being there, and the team realized how much they liked having them. Do they enter 2013 as a genuine title threat? Nope. But everyone is happy the be there, everyone is having fun, and the pressure and stress of 2012 is long gone. Considering this is a team that races because it wants to, not because it has to, having fun again is an important ingredient.
Steve Matthes:
Yamaha’s announcement of their 2013 teams shows some promise and some restraint. It’s no secret that the blue crew has been pulling back from pro racing the last few years but I was hoping that with the announcement of a revamped privateer contingency plan for supercross and motocross, we’d see more effort put into supporting some pro teams or maybe a return by the factory team. But as it is, the JGR Yamaha team has announced a couple of badly kept secrets in the form of riders Justin Brayton and Josh Grant and the Star team announcement probably was met with yawns but stay with me here, this could be a good thing.
But first, what’s old is new again for the NASCAR guys and although it’s not a traditional way of going about business in our sport, I like both the hires. Brayton’s as solid as they come on and off the track and it’s great to see that he’s fully embraced the North Carolina life which will make Coy Gibbs happy. Brayton’s going to stay in California in the winter but then go back to NC and that way the team can test and try to improve the bike. Grant had a nice comeback season last year and although things ended kind of badly between JGR and Josh the first go-around, he and the team are in a different place these days. Both guys will log some fine finishes for Yamaha and JGR this year.
Looks like the Star Yamaha guys have pulled back a bit for 2013 and that might be a good thing. The team last year merged with Valli Motorsports and by all accounts, it was probably too much to handle for the both parties. Riders came and went week in and week out and everyone’s performance suffered. Kyle Cunningham had a great 2011 season for the team and a forgettable 2012 so let’s hope he can get back to his old level. Jeremy Martin showed that he’s pretty good and Cooper Webb, well I’ve heard a lot about this kid and I’m sure, like all amateur fast guys, he’ll be just fine. Paring everything down, bringing it in-house and focusing on just a few guys could prove to be the remedy to a team that struggled last year.
The Eleven10 Mod guys are also getting some help from Yamaha this year (not in the official PR though) and will have Alex Martin and another guy that owner Chad Sanner is saying will be a great addition once everything is officially signed. He’s looking forward to creating a little blue powerhouse in a black box van.
Chase Stallo:
Well it isn’t the splash JGR/Toyota Yamaha made last year with the signing of James Stewart. Nope, ESPN and the entire motocross media didn’t flock to North Carolina to cover a big press conference that a year ago fueled a must-win scenario for JGR heading into 2012. One year after the Stewart debacle, JGR has gone back to their roots … circa 2010. They’ve brought back Justin Brayton and Josh Grant to form a formidable lineup that could challenge for podiums, but don’t expect any title aspirations coming out of Charlotte for 2013.
And what a difference a year makes for Star Racing, who last year teamed up with Valli Yamaha to roll out a small army of seven riders that has now dwindled to three (Cooper Webb will likely join the team outdoors). Star has begun to make a small dent in the Pro Circuit Kawasaki, GEICO Honda stranglehold on the amateur ranks with the signings of two of the brightest stars to come out of the 2012 class in Webb and Jeremy Martin. But as has been the MAJOR hole in the Star program in the past; is will they actually hold on to these budding stars? Names like Matt Lemoine, Wil Hahn, Darryn Durham have all rolled through the Star team, only to roll out the following year, and now, more recently, Gannon Audette, Nico Izzi and Kyle Peters (who was the number two rated prospect behind Justin Bogle in 2011.) This is where Star has dropped the ball in comparison to Pro Circuit and GEICO. They have continuously failed to let these teenagers develop into the stars they can become. If they let Martin and Webb develop, they could challenge for a title down the road. But if it’s another round of one-and-done, it could affect the team not only this year but down the road as amateur prospects may become weary to join a team that has a history of one year and out.
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Why does it take thee guys to tell the same news ?????
Kyle Cunningham is an amazing rider but wow that dude wads up hard. Not bagging on him, I just can't imagine relying on him to complete a full series. I hope he does because he's fun to watch.
No word of Ben LaMay anywhere- he was the top placing Yamaha rider at a few nationals. 2012 was a great year for him.
What a drag! Yamaha used to be such a player in this sport, but now it seems like each year they take another step backwards. How is it that the other major manufacturers can field potential championship winning teams but not "Big Blue".
I used to love Yamaha ..............Ijust dont get it know............I think I'm leaning towards ................NO RIDE ............KTM !
At this point in time, JGR is more committed to racing than Yamaha is.
JGR should do one of two things:
1) Homologate the WR450 and show their team riders they are willing to make strides TODAY, not wait for Yamaha to do a PR cover-job of a flawed machine.
2) S-can Yamaha and go get Husky (BMW) to sign on the dotted line. I'm sure they have the coin and it would be a big step for Husky in re-entering the U.S. market and they couldn't get a better R&D program to improve the bike for U.S. racing which, is a necessity.
Considering the timeline, JGR is probably stuck with Yamaha this season.
The Toyota connection does them no favors in this current situation.
@Jake511
Agreed on Lamay. DC get this kid some more PR. Crazy no one signed the kid is solid.
WHY ? Did Ryno and Dubach go to Suzuki !
Looks like BT101 is healthy (again)they should of gave him a call..
I agree with Chase above, one and done hurts Star moving forward - particularly if they are trying to sign an amateur or pro who has other options. That history combined with the state of Yamaha right now easilty make them #5 on the totem pole. I saw that in yesterday's PR announcement that Keith McCarty is still the Racing Division Manager at Yamaha. I assume that means other forms of racing besides MX because what does that guy do all day if not?
I hear a lot of people on here dissing the Yamaha and possibly for good reason, but then, again, I'm not so sure. I have been talking a quite a bit with Jeremy Martin myself lately. As I have said on here (prolly too many times) I live close by and can't help but be a big fan of both the Martin boys. Been dailing Jerma's van in for him, as he's headed south for some serious training. REAL SERIOUS .I do know where but am not sure if I should say.Anyway, I know for a fact that the Yamaha fits Jeremy just fine. He has told me a few things, but never anything negative where the bike is concerned. He is happy with it and I believe Alex will be, as well. But then again niether of these two are whiners. Just good kids. It seems that the world in general is more dissapionted in the 450 than the 250 at this point in time. So we shall see what becomes this year. I for one can't wait. I think the two brothers will feed off each other and share thier thoughts and secrets. Like brothers should-unless there are some sort of contract stuff that prevents it.
Yamaha: Please update and bring out another YZ250 and thanks for keeping the current one alive. While I'm at it, would be most excellent of Honda to revive the CR250 as well.
Im definitely glad to hear that Brayton and Grant are back at yamaha, I like them better there.
Good solid choices in Grant and Brayton both have alot left and will give it all they got...Something Yamaha really needs right now..The bike has a really bad reputation built on one rider who actually hauled ass on it and won some races at the highest level (Go figure)...
The comments are getting really out of hand on the YZ 450 ..Im guessing from Bubba fans mostly..I wonder how many of these so called MX experts have actually rode one at all...Probably none of them cause everyone i know with one at the track really likes it and has very little negative comments about it..usually they say the bike makes a weird noise in the air tank and the bike feels wider than the others...thats about it...
Now that said I am actually guilty of the same crime..I cursed the Dungey to KTM move when it went down thinking my favorite rider's career was some how over...I have never riden a KTM to this day and just figured I could speak of this without any personal knowledge of the Orange experience..LOL...SO GLAD I WAS WRONG..for RD5 and KTM they now actually have me considering a KTM as an option...WHY? just cause he rides it...am I that much of sheep to follow whatever I am told to (((KInd of like what people are saying about blue)))) WOW I guess at 38 i still have some growing up to do...LOL
Bottom line is I am sorry to KTM for comments I have made without ever riding a single KTM in my life...TO Yamaha just know you are a season from recovering this awful opinion..JS7 with be gfast and will win just like he did in the outdoors,,,however,,,he wil crash alot..just hope he wont blame the bike again especiially when paid millions to try hard and represent his current brand....
There is no way Grant and Brayton will challenge for podiums, they will be lucky to get 7th place.
Team Blue is turning into Team Blue Streak. Hopefully the YZ isnt going to end up going the way of Cagiva, Husky (prior to italia), Maico, Can-Am, BSA, Bultaco, Greeves, and Hodaka. Are we to blame? Didn't we all want to see a reversed cylinder bike with lots of Coolubtainium and ground breaking gizits that would instantly make us Dudleys into Dungeys? Clearly, the boys in blue bet the farm on the tech just like Cannondale and to a lesser extent Husaberg, and ended up rolling the sales equivalent of snake eyes.
IMO, KTM stands to inherit the mid-80s and early 90s Honda crown. They have the rider base to finance the bling, and the road forward is much clearer after the once mighty have fallen.
I am a moron - I admit, but since dirt bikes are an emotional purchase, that PR is the tipping point. Bad press trumps technology even while science screams foul.
The point I would make is that being conservative, offering lots of choices, and conquering the PR landscape is the game, and KTM is currently the King of The Mountain.
Woe to us Honda faithful. After blue and yellow go, then we are next. Who will be our saivor???
I completely understand the concept of riding for fun, shoot, every rider does. But the nationals are for showing who can stick it out the longest and pull a big win at the end of the season. Seems like ever since Langston won thr outdoors series in 2007, they have been slowly falling off the radar. I agree and think they need to keep the up and coming stars of our sport on their team and give them a chance. Look at Andrew Short.. He has been riding Red for the longest time and has consistently finished third in the series for years (except 2012 where he finished 4th). Sure Big Blue had Bubba for a while but it's no surprise he only lasted a few races. He rides fast but at the same time it seems to be out of control at times, causing most of his injuries and time on the couch. I know the Yami team can do better than this.
@biker 43 So your smart ass can get it in 3 different directions. Anyways they do it this way so its not biased. Thought you'd figure it out by now
@ BigUglyManiac, Honda isn't going anywhere, they have too big of a customer base, Japanese economy depends on them too much (same for all four j-brands) and the J-government would probably step in before it came to that. Even since Mr. Honda died and the company was taken over by the commitee and has taken a MUCH more conservative approach to racing bikes, they still have an enormous presence on the racing scene even without a enormous sponsor. That tells me something about their commitment.
On the other hand, Yamaha & Suzuki have traditionally been the ones to step back from racing budgets. Lo and behold, we have a crap economy and Yamaha & Suzuki are slashing funds like an electronics-store wharehouse slashes prices on year-old technology.
The emegence of China as a manufacturing power has got to be included into the discussion as well. Those crappy little pit bikes that were all the rage about 5-10 years ago had to put a dent in the big-4's bottom line. Whether the money went to China or Brown Brothers, no matter, it didn't go to Japan.