Yamaha Motor Australia press release:

Image: Supplied.

In 1998, Serco Motorsports entered the motocross fraternity. With the introduction of the YZ400F and Serco’s history in motorsports dominated by four strokes, namely speedway and drag racing, Serco’s progression to motocross was a natural one and now 22 years later it’s still going as strong as ever.

In those days, Serco Motorsport purchased Yamaha’s and fielded a team as way to promote its own products. As an importer and distributor of several four stroke products, Serco Motorsport were in on the ground floor as the four-stroke boom as it grew around the world.

Then in 2001, Yamaha Motor Australia entered into a relationship with Serco that is still going strong 20 years later. What started out as a bikes and parts deal in 2001, soon morphed into Serco taking the reins for Yamaha in the Lites class, as it was known then, for the 2004 season. CDR Yamaha become the official 450 or MX1 team and Yamaha Australia paved the way for what is now the industry standard with race teams focusing on the one sized bike and class. So, 2020 marks the 20th year Serco Yamaha and Yamaha Motor Australia have worked together and with plenty of championships to show.

Entering the front door of Serco (which stands for Stationary Engine Repair Company) in Capalaba in Queensland, you are met with a range of championship bikes. Six YZ250F’s are lined against the far wall, from championships won by Cameron Taylor, Jake Moss, Luke Styke, Luke Clout, Jackson Richardson and Wilson Todd while there is a drag bike against the window and a speedway bike that seems to be in a different position every time I walk in the door.

At the helm of Serco, both the business and the race team, is Gavin Eales. Eales has been a long time motorsport enthusiast and the drag bike in the window is one the Eales raced himself. Eales continues to invest his company’s money into racing and now at 22 years in the business is the second longest running team in the MX paddock, just a handful of years behind Yamaha stable mate, CDR Yamaha.

Serco Yamaha Riders:
1998: Mark Kirkman
1999: Andrew McFarlane
2000: Mark Avard
2001: Michael Cotter
2002: Jye Hervey / Chris Urquhart
2003: Daniel McCoy / Quentin Carroll / Mick Cook
2004: Robbie Marshall / Adam Cini / Wade Thompson
2005: Cameron Taylor / Robbie Marshall
2006: Cameron Taylor / Robbie Marshall / Jake Moss
2007: Jake Moss / Daniel McCoy / Brendan Harrison (MXD)
2008: Lewis Stewart / Damien King /
2009: Mitch Hoad / Matt Ryan/ Kirk Gibbs
2010: Ford Dale / Kirk Gibbs / Kyle Cunningham (SX only)
2011: Ford Dale/ Kirk Gibbs / Jake Moss (MX Only)
2012: Luke Styke / Kirk Gibbs/
2013: Luke Styke / Luke Clout/ Luke Arbon (SX only)
2014: Luke Clout / Jay Wilson
2015: Luke Clout / Jed Beaton
2016: Wilson Todd / Wade Hunter
2017: Jackson Richardson / Mitch Evans
2018: Wilson Todd / Nathan Crawford / Jacob Hayes (SX only)
2019: Nathan Crawford / Aaron Tanti / Jacob Hayes (SX only)
2020: Aaron Tanti / Dylan Walsh

Serco Yamaha Championships:
2005: 1st Cameron Taylor – MX2
2007: 1st Jake Moss – MX2
2007: 1st Brendan Harrison – MXD
2013: 1st Luke Styke – MX2
2013: 1st Luke Styke SX2
2014: 1st Luke Clout- MX2
2016: 1st Jackson Richardson- SX2
2017: 1st Jackson Richardson – SX2
2018: 1st Wilson Todd – MX2