The CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team is about to embark on its 30th year of operation and plans another successful year with plenty of activities to celebrate 30 years in racing throughout 2023.
Formed in 1993 with multi-time motocross champion Craig Dack at the helm, the CDR Yamaha operation has gone on to be one of the longest running and most successful motorsport teams in Australia after amassing a trophy cabinet that’s now bursting at the seams. Former riders of the team include some of the sport’s biggest names like Chad Reed, Daryl King, Jay Marmont, Troy Carroll, Josh Coppins and Dean Ferris all playing a part in the CDR Yamaha success.
“To not only stay in business for 30 years as a racer and then transition into a team owner / manager is a real testament to the riders, staff, sponsors and partners who have been a part of the CDR journey,” Craig Dack explains. “We remain as motivated, competitive and dedicated as we were on day one.
“For those 30 years, Yamaha Australia, Fox, Pro Circuit, Dunlop and more recently, Monster Energy, have been there and provided the backbone of the team and we are proud to say the relationship with those companies is just as strong today.
“We have plenty of things to celebrate in 2023 and will have a range of special activities covering our 30 years throughout the season.
“And I feel we are as well placed as any year with a great rider line up featuring the current ProMX champion, Aaron Tanti and 2021 champ, Luke Clout. Both riders are in the prime of their careers and we look forward to working with both of them in a year that will be full of milestones for CDR Yamaha.”
The team can also reveal an updated look for the 2023 season. CDR Yamaha are a part of the global Yamaha/Monster Energy relationship and will use the same bike livery as their MXGP and Star Racing Yamaha counterparts.
Dack represented his team at the recent unveiling of the 2023 livery in the USA and further cemented the team’s place with Monster Energy and Yamaha as all global partners when they came together at the recent San Diego round of the AMA Supercross Series.
“I was honoured to be invited to the USA to be a part of the Monster Energy/Yamaha reveal for 2023 that encompassed not just the motocross teams in the US and Europe but also the Moto GP bikes. The partnership between the two companies has been very successful and for CDR to be included in the announcement shows the relationship we have with our partners around the world,” Dack added.
Coming into round one of the Pro MX title chase, the red plate will be on the all new YZ450F ridden by 2022 champion, Aaron Tanti. Tanti come of age in the 2022 season, going from the hunter to the hunted as he powered his way to the 2022 title. Tanti showed speed, fitness and maturity to take the crown but is under no illusions entering the 2023 season given the MX1 field is as deep in talent as it has been in some time.
“Last year was a great season for me and wining the ProMX championship was a goal I really wanted to achieve,” says Tanti. “With the CDR Yamaha team’s support, we were able to hit that goal, but I also know that come this weekend at round one, we all start on zero and last year is just a fond memory.
“The off season has gone really well for me and I have a solid block of training under my belt. I have had a focus on the things I felt I could do better and worked hard to be a better, faster rider in 2023 than I was in 2022. The new YZ450F has also been a great addition as the new bike is improved in so many areas and I’m really excited to get on it in race conditions,” Tanti said.
Teammate Luke Clout is back up and firing on all cylinders after an injury interrupted 2022 season. Clout started last year on fire, winning the opening round of the championship but then fell at round two resulting in a broken leg that took considerable time to heal. Then once back on the bike, Clout fell again, this time hurting his thumb and was sidelined for the remainder of the year.
But there have been several off-track changes in Clout’s life and they see him reinvigorated and ready for racing as we close in on the opening round of the 2023 ProMX Championship.
“2022 was a bit of a disaster for me and I needed to make some changes to keep moving forward,” Clout admits. “The biggest and best was marrying my long-term partner, Lauren, recently. She has been by my side for a long time now and we finally found the right time and place to get married and it was a perfect day for us.
“We have also relocated to the Sunshine Coast this year. Tracks in the Sydney area were getting harder and harder to find, as were people to ride with, so moving to Queensland and hooking up with the Ford Dale Elite riding group has also been a positive change. I have been injury free for a while now and feel I’m building momentum in my riding and training.
“Racing is my passion and I missed the thrill and adrenaline of racing in 2022, so this year is super-exciting for me as I get back to doing what I love, reconnecting with the CDR Yamaha team and trying to continue their success as the team celebrates 30 years of racing,” Clout said.
The opening round of the 2023 ProMX Championship gets under way this weekend, March 5, at the always challenging Wonthaggi circuit, in Victoria.
