RUPRECHT RETURNS TO SHOPYAMAHA

Kyron Bacon’s recent social media post to publicly express his thanks to everyone at Yamaha for their incredible off-road racing successes together over the past three years sure got tongues wagging about who would be Bacon’s replacement on the ShopYamaha Off-Road Racing Team for the 2025 season. But before speculation could gain too much momentum, Yamaha Motor Australia released some PR that not only confirmed it would be Will Ruprecht who’ll take Bacon’s vacated seat, but also confirmed the entire line-up of off-road riders on their 2025 roster.

Heading overseas at the end of 2018 as the E1 AORC Champion, Ruprecht has since enjoyed a successful stint racing the World Enduro Championships and claimed the 2022 world championship title, becoming only the fourth Australian to ever do so.

But the desire to return to Australia was strong, and Ruprecht has now reconnected with his former ShopYamaha Off Road Team alongside Will Dennet. The Yamaha team were a major player in launching Ruprecht’s international career back in the day.

Ruprecht, now 26, will mount the 450cc and contest the E2 division and go head-to-head with Daniel Milner in a mouthwatering rivalry for the newly rebranded Australian Enduro Championship.

Dennett partners Ruprecht in an all E2 team for 2025. Dennett continues to develop as a rider and in only his first year of pro level racing secured third in the E2 division and was a regular top five outright rider. Still only 19, Dennett has youth and speed on his side and will only improve with more racing experience.

Bacon, on the other hand, has been working hard behind the scenes to get an opportunity to race internationally for the 2025 season and has secured a deal (yet to be formally announced) that will allow him to take that next step.

Ruprecht:
“I have remained in contact with AJ over the years and he has been a bit of a sounding board for my career during my time in Europe, so when I mentioned to him that I was thinking of coming home, he was quickly able to get something together for me. Europe and racing the World Enduro Championships has been an amazing experience where I have met and worked with some great people and I wouldn’t change it, but the time was right to come back to Australia. AJ always told me something would be here for me when I came back, so I’m excited to work with him again.”

“It’s also come at a good time as MA are revamping the Australian Championship with a new look and some changes to the racing, and hopefully, I can assist them in achieving a higher profile for off road racing in Australia. So far things are going well and I’m settling back into the Australian way of life, but the opening rounds aren’t too far away so it’s time to get serious and get after it.”

Dennet:
“2024 was a solid first year in E2 and showed that I was capable of racing with the top guys. I still have a lot to learn but I’m up for the challenge and have set my goals higher again for 2025. Having Will on the team will also be of benefit to me as I can lean on him and his experience, so I can’t wait to get started and look forward to another great year working with the ShopYamaha crew.”

AJ Roberts, ShopYamaha Team Manager:
“Firstly, I would like to thank Kyron and his dad, Andrew for their efforts over the past few years and we hope that we have been able to provide him with a platform to race successfully at the highest level. It’s been a long time goal of Kyron’s, and we are proud to have assisted and supported him on that journey. We know he will do his best and will always be welcomed at our team.”

“But it’s team Will for 2025 and we are ready for an exciting year. The rebranding of the championship, plus having Ruprecht back will only enhance off roads racing in Australia and already he has been an assist to the team with testing and knowledge. We are also looking for big things from Will Dennett. He is just finding his feet in the E2 class and enters 2025 with some much-needed experience and a little more maturity in his riding and training.”

On the bLU cRU side of things, Yamaha Australia have again put together their Support program for 2025, a vital component of the ‘Step-Up’ program within racing that assists off-road riders. Cooper Sheidow returns, and Jett Yarnold will make the transition up from the Under 19 class into E1.

Multi AORC and ISDE winner Jess Gardiner and her team are back, looking to bring through more female talent. Danielle McDonald will ply her trade in the U.S. next season after being under the guidance of Gardiner for the past few seasons. Gardiner hopes to unearth another undiscovered talent in a young female racer, Lorna Lock.

Lock will contest the Junior Girl’s class on a YZ85 and will pit with the JGR team. Yamaha will have further representation in the Women’s and junior divisions for 2025 with Madi Simpson contesting the AEC in the Women’s class with the support of the WBR Yamaha team.