Image: John Pearson.

Yamaha Active8 Yamalube Racing has revealed a three-rider line-up that will complete its efforts in the 2019 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) and various off-road events on the calendar.

The squad will remain relatively unchanged with Josh Green spearheading the team, alongside motocross convert and reigning E1 champion Luke Styke and two-time EJ champion Michael Driscoll.

For Green, 2019 will mark his eighth season with the squad, and believes he is as passionate about winning as he was when he first joined the team.

“I still want to win as much as I did in my first season with AJ and the team,” said Green. “Having Styke and Driscoll in the team benefits me as much as I assist them in that I can use their energy and youthful exuberance to keep me going.

“Yamaha have been great to work with over the years and I’m 100 percent a Yamaha guy. I’m proud to represent not only this team but also Yamaha and still believe I’m more than capable of mixing it with anyone in Australian off-road.”

After dominating the E1 division, Styke is targeting outright honours next season as he endeavours to put an end to Daniel Milner’s commanding display throughout the last two years.

“Off-road was completely new to me this time last year and almost every event I went to I had to learn not just about the bike, the rules or the riding, but also the formats and the fitness required to succeed at the highest level, so it was a lot to take in all at once but I was happy with how the year turned out,” Styke explained.

“But for 2019, I now have that experience, so my time and focus can be on fine tuning my program to get the most from myself and being better again. Last year the goal was to win my class, in 2019, the next step is outright and although Milner is riding exceptionally well and one of the best riders in the world, there is no point racing if we don’t have him as the bench mark and try and beat him.”

For Driscoll, next year will mark his graduation to the professional ranks after previously contesting, and claiming victory, in the under 19s category.

“I feel like I have a good foundation to enter the professional classes now and confident I can mix it up with the best in the class right from the get go,” said Driscoll. ““Having watched closely how someone like Josh prepares himself and seeing the professionalism he approaches his racing enables me to learn that being successful is more than just hanging off the throttle.

“Being back with AJ and the team is great and we have a really good thing going. The bikes are awesome and we have an awesome group of people around us so hopefully Luke, Josh and myself can all push each other to have an even better season that last.”