CDR/Rockstar Yamaha
With all the formalities out of the way, we chatted to the guys at CDR Rockstar Yamaha, of which JUST BIKES is a team partner, about the challenges they expect to face for season 2010.
"It is an exciting time at CDR/Rockstar Yamaha." team principal, Craig Dack said at the launch.
"Our riders, Jay Marmont and Cheyne Boyd, are in the prime of their careers, we have an amazing bike to develop in the YZ450F and the popularity of motocross and supercross is on a high in Australia. The off season is almost over and we have worked hard to ensure we have everything in place for another successful year and reward our loyal band of sponsors and team partners," Dack added.
When he talks about hard work, Dack isn't kidding. CDR arrived at the season launch on the back of almost a full week's testing of the new, 2010-spec Yamaha YZ450F. CDR's head of engine development and logistics, Shawn Hodgetts, spoke to us of the challenges presented by the YZ's all-new fuel injected motor, as well as changes to the airbox, exhaust system and other components that have had all the CDR technicians putting in the hard yards to make the new YZ race-ready. While Hodgetts acknowledged the 2010 YZ 450F was a good package straight out of the box, CDR want "great", not "good" and Hodgetts told us the team are now confident they've achieved that. CDR are also potentially looking at running with KYB suspension this year, instead of the Ohlins units they've successfully run with for several seasons. Marmont ran KYB units in last year's SuperX series, but has been using factory suspension for most test sessions this year.
After winning the past two outdoor titles, Marmont will be aiming for three-in-a-row this year - a feat only previously achieved by Dack himself - so the pressure is on the CDR technicians to deliver the quickest bike possible! Marmont expects strong competition from the likes of Cody Cooper and former MX1 GP rider and British MX champ, Billy Mackenzie, as well as JDR Motorex KTM's Andrew McFarlane and Tye Simmonds. However, Marmont's biggest threat to a "three-peat" could come from within the CDR squad itself, with Cheyne Boyd in top form. Despite suffering an injury in the SuperX series, Boyd is expected to again be strong in the outdoors this year, after putting in some very impressive performances in the second half of the 2009 season. JUST BIKES will be following the progress of the team throughout the 2010 season, so watch this space for more on CDR and the 2010 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals as the season unfolds.
