Team CDR Yamaha: 50+ Titles in 25 Years

Contrary to popular belief, the factory-backed race teams involved with Australia’s national race series – whether it’s MX, SX or off-road racing – don’t operate on limitless budgets. And the team rationalisation expected for the 2018 season, particularly in the MX Nats paddock, is a stark reminder that running a commercially viable race team in Australia is no easy task. One team, however, has not only stood the test of time; it has also become this country’s most successful team in any field of motorsport. We speak, of course, of CDR Yamaha. And 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the union of Craig Dack Racing (CDR) with Yamaha Motor Australia (YMA) – one of Australia’s longest-standing and successful sporting combinations ever. As we head into the 2018 season, CDR Yamaha has amassed more than 50 national championship wins in motocross, supercross and off-road series, and continues to set the benchmark for race teams of any kind in Australia.

It was back in 1993 that four-time Mr Motocross champion, Craig Dack, first got together with Yamaha Motor Australia to form CDR Yamaha and represent Yamaha at major motocross and supercross events throughout the country. And right from day one, CDR Yamaha was a success. The team took a national championship in their debut season, and since then the partnership and the success has continued to grow. Starting with the YZ125 and YZ250 two-stroke models, through to the four-stroke era – beginning in 1998 with the YZ400F – CDR and Yamaha have been on the cutting edge of racing knowledge, and their success has been simply astounding over such a sustained period of time.

“I’m fortunate that Yamaha Motor Australia and I share the same passion for racing and winning,” explains CDR Yamaha’s Craig Dack. “We both shared the vision of a high-quality, high-profile race team that every rider in the country aspires to be on, and that’s still want drives me today. Together, Craig Dack Racing and Yamaha Motor Australia have consistently showcased Yamaha’s range of race-bred machines at the highest level. With over 50 championships under our collective belts – across motocross, supercross, off-road, two-stroke and four-stroke – we have enjoyed amazing success and will continue to strive for more success in the future,” Dack went on to say.

Yamaha Motor Australia’s Managing Director, Steven Cotterell, has had a hands-on role with CDR Yamaha since the team’s formation in 1993 and has been a driving force throughout the team’s journey. Cotterell, an ex-racer himself, is as passionate and committed to racing as ever and continues to be a huge supporter of CDR Yamaha and the success of Yamaha in racing.

“Working alongside Craig Dack for 25 years has been one of the success stories of my time at Yamaha Motor Australia,” Cotterell begins. “I can still recall the very early days of establishing the team and ensuring it was set up for long-term success and stability. Reflecting on those 25 years is easy, as there have been so many highlights that we have shared with the CDR Yamaha team. Winning major championships, unveiling new and ground-breaking bikes, developing Australia’s best talent, not to mention the technical advances made with both the YZ and WR range, are just some of the things that come quickly to mind.

“On behalf of Yamaha Motor Australia and our employees, I would like to thank and congratulate Craig, his staff and riders for creating a team that represents Yamaha and our racing heritage perfectly, and to this day remains at the top of the game in so many ways,” Cotterell concluded.

Check out this video interview with Craig Dack below, as he shares his thoughts about the key ingredients that have gone into Team CDR Yamaha’s 25-year success story.

Yamaha Motor Australia and CDR Yamaha recently ran a 25-year timeline on CDR’s and YMA’s Facebook pages to celebrate 25 years in racing, and it’s well worth a look.