Yamaha bLU cRU Road Racers Complete Graves/Yamaha YZF-R3 Orientation Camp For 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship
Cypress, CA – February 14, 2018 – Phase 1 of the 2018 Graves/Yamaha YZF-R3 Support Program was completed last week with a Two-Day Orientation Camp held at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in Buttonwillow, CA. A total of nine Yamaha bLU cRU road racers participated in the Camp, which was hosted by Graves Motorsports and Graves Racing Services owner and president Chuck Graves. The Camp introduced each of the riders and their parents/teams to their brand-new Graves/Yamaha YZF-R3 racebikes, included an introduction to the 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship’s rules and regulations, and culminated in the riders getting valuable seat time aboard their R3 machines while lapping Buttonwillow’s road course.
Yamaha bLU cRU riders who participated in the Orientation Camp included Chase Lyons (#13), Jackson Blackmon (#18), Hunter Dunham (#20), Joseph Blasius (#24), Toby Khamsouk (#27), Gauge Rees (#46), Cory Ventura (#64), Dylan Deutschlander (#75), and Tyler Wissel (#200).
On hand from Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS), were Keith McCarty, YMUS Motorsports Racing Division Manager; Tom Halverson, YMUS bLU cRU Road Racing Manager; Marcus DeMichele, YMUS Street Motorcycle Media Relations Manager; and four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes, Yamaha Factory Racing Ambassador and bLU cRU Rider Coach. Josh took the riders on a fact-filled track walk where he provided numerous valuable racing insights and tips not only about lapping at Buttonwillow but also about motorcycle road racing, as a whole.
“It was a really good two-day session,” Chuck said about the Orientation Camp. “We’ve got a great group of young riders who are very enthusiastic and eager to learn about motorcycle road racing. They got to spend time on their brand-new Graves/Yamaha R3, including time in the seat doing laps. The riders, their parents and teams, and all of us are really looking forward to the upcoming MotoAmerica Junior Cup season. This is exactly what we need to help develop and cultivate the next generation of motorcycle road racing champions, both here in the U.S. and also on the world stage.”
Keith added, “The Graves/Yamaha YZF-R3 Support Program is a perfect application of the Yamaha bLU cRU philosophy. And, this two-day orientation camp was the launching point for our latest group of bLU cRU riders. We’re excited to watch these riders grow and develop this year and into the future as potential Yamaha Champions.”
For more details about the Graves/Yamaha YZF-R3 Support Program, call Graves Motorsports at 800-867-6480, extension 800, send an email to [email protected], or visit www.gravesport.com Complete Graves/Yamaha R3 build lists and more information are available at www.gravesracingservices.com
Graves Motorsports has produced individual videos that profile each of Yamaha bLU cRU riders who are participating in the Graves/Yamaha YZF-R3 Support Program. They are posted on the following social media channels:
– Facebook: www.facebook.com/GravesMotorsports
– Instagram: @gravesport
– Twitter: @gravesport
– YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/GravesMotorsports
For more Yamaha racing news, results, photos, and videos, visit http://www.YamahaMotorsports.com/Racing
Also, check out “YamahaMotorUSA” on your favorite social media site.