Taree techie wins MC Tech GP

Merriman was the 2009 runner up in the bi-annual event and also competed in 2005, giving him a key advantage over the six other competitors.

Runner up spot was a dead heat between Kiwi Jeremy Read from Filco Farm and Sport in Nelson and Steven Teese from Jimboomba Motorcycles in Queensland. The tied spot is the only occurrence since the inception of the MC Tech GP in 2001.

The MC Tech GP features a challenging theory exam where key pad technology is used that includes recording of response times. This combines with seven tough practical tasks each having multiple scoring points makes the dead heat for second place even more astonishing.

"My attendance at previous Tech GPs stood me in good stead, but the key to winning was a methodical approach with plenty of reference to the technical manual," says Merriman. "It's a great feeling to come out on top after coming so close in the last GP. The event is a great challenge for technicians who otherwise don't see much in the way of incentives in our industry," he continues. "So winning is great, but even to make the finals is an honour and I'm pleased to be working in a dealership that sees the benefit of the Tech Grand Prix," explains Merriman.

Merriman has now qualified to compete in Yamaha's World Technicians GP and will join our 2009 winner, Greg Dodt as Oceania representatives to compete against technicians from around the globe. The World GP will be held at Yamaha Headquarters, Japan in October 2012.

The Tech GP is the culmination of Yamaha's YTA training program aimed at raising the proficiency of all Yamaha technicians in the Oceania market region to ensure customers receive outstanding after-sales service.

The event helps raise the profile of technicians within our dealer network and provides recognition that will help encourage others to take on a career as a Yamaha Technician.

The seven finalists were selected from over 100 applicants working in Yamaha dealerships across Australia and New Zealand. The finalists arrived at YMA HQ from every region and underwent a computerised theory examination and seven practical tasks that covered subjects such as fault diagnosis, product knowledge and information systems.

The seven finalists were:
Region / Name / Dealership / Town
NSW Glenn Merriman Fineline Motorcycles Taree
NSW Ben Rose Lismore Motorcycles Lismore
NZ Jeremy Read Filco Farm and Sport Nelson
NZ Nic Kroeze Waikato Yamaha Hamilton
QLD Heath Kirchhofer Motorcycle Country Gympie
QLD Steven Teese Jimboomba Motorcycles Jimboomba
SA/NT Rick Phillips Bridgeland Motorcycles Murray Bridge