2009 Factory Yamaha Teams

Press Release | November 14, 2008

After a very successful 2008 season, which saw a YZ450F take home the prestigious 2008 AMA Supercross title and a YZ250F win the 2008 West Coast AMA Lites Supercross title, Yamaha Motor Corporation is proud to announce our complete Supercross/Motocross race teams for the 2009 season. The Factory Yamaha Supercross/Motocross team will consist of Broc Hepler, Josh Hill and Grant Langston. Both Josh and Broc are eager to begin the new season on their YZ450Fs, each with stronger race credentials with Josh taking a very emotional win at the Minneapolis Supercross and Broc making a very successful return from injuries to score a podium at the final AMA National round at Steel City. Due to an unfortunate vision problem Grant was forced to sit out the majority of the season but looks forward to mentoring the young riders as a team advisor in 2009 until his vision improves. Team L&M/San Manuel Band of Mission Indians made one of the biggest moves of the off season signing James Stewart to ride under their tent. Hot off a perfect outdoor season, US Open victory and dominating Bercy Supercross performance, James enters the 2009 AMA Supercross season with a ton of confidence in himself and his 2009 YZ450F. Fellow Floridian Kyle Chisholm moves up to the 450 Class as the team’s second rider. After a solid freshman effort the Joe Gibbs’ Racing/Spike Energy/Toyota team has signed Josh Grant and New Zealander Cody Cooper to lead their 2009 charge. After a prolific career on 250Fs, Josh is really looking forward to making the jump into the premier class on a YZ450F. Cooper initially got his feet wet in the US in 2007, but mounted a full scale attack on the AMA Motocross series in 2008, earning a few podiums and finishing up fifth overall. The 2009 season will see him stay in the States full time, racing both the Supercross and Motocross series. For the 2009 season Star Racing will be Yamaha’s official 250F team. Having worked together since 2005, Star Racing has proven itself a legitimate competitor and a great ambassador for the Yamaha brand. The team will consist of Matt Lemoine, Broc Tickle, Darryn Durham and Michael Hall. Which coast each rider will compete on is yet to be decided. Yamaha Racing Division Manager Keith McCarty had this to say about the upcoming year, “It’s very comforting knowing that we’ve aligned ourselves with some of the best teams and riders in the industry and we look forward to a very successful 2009 Race Season”.

By Press Release