Yamaha Motor Australia press release:

Victoria’s Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit is ready to burst into life for the Yamaha Financial Services sponsored opening round of the 2019 World SBK championship on 22-24 February. To celebrate the new season, Yamaha Motor Australia will have a swag of trackside entertainment for race fans to enjoy right across the three-day event.

The Yamaha bLU cRU truck will be located next to the Expo area, operating free fun bike demo rides for the next generation of riders aged 5-9 years. The young ones can enjoy laps of the supervised test arena on Yamaha’s popular PW50 and TT-R50 fun bikes, or try four wheels on the YFZ50 fun ATV. All the required safety gear is provided, including boots, jersey, pants, helmet, goggles and gloves, with riding tips and encouragement provided by professional coaches from Oates MX. It’s all free, and there’s no need to pre-register.

Fans keen to experience the speed and thrill of a hot lap around the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit should make a beeline for the Yamaha stand inside the Expo. Climb aboard Cru Halliday’s 2018 ASBK Supersport Championship winning Yamaha YZF-R6 race bike, slip on the 360-degree virtual reality goggles and headphones to see what it’s like to ride flat-out on a hot lap of the fast and flowing 4.45km Island circuit, courtesy of reigning Australian Champion Halliday.

While visiting the stand, check out the 2019 range of Yamaha motorcycles, including the all-new WR450F, YZF-R3 and the first Australian appearance of the GT sports touring verson of the incredible three-wheeled Niken.

A blast from the past will take centre stage in the Yamaha bLU cRU area with Valentino Rossi’s 2005 MotoGP championship-winning YZR-M1 on display.

The Yamaha stand is also the place to enter the draw to win one of four $1000 Yamaha gift cards usable at any Yamaha dealership nationally. The winners will be drawn on Monday 25 February and announced on the Yamaha Motor Australia website. For more details visit www.ymf.com.au/WorldSBKCompetition

Fans should also keep an eye out for the YMF and YMI promotion staff wandering the spectator areas giving away a host of goodies, including hats, stubby coolers, visor cleaners, sidestand paddock plates and limited edition WorldSBK Yamaha $20 gift cards. They will even be happy to stop for a selfie.