Making the transition into the Yamaha Racing Team (YRT) for this year, Max Stauffer has been steadily building in the premier class over the last two seasons. Now – with the backing of Yamaha’s official program – what can he do in ASBK 2025? Fast Thoughts features his take leading into the upcoming season.

Image: Foremost Media.

The transition to the YRT…

It’s been awesome. Everyone has been great to deal with and trying their best to give me what I need. I have gotten to know them all and we get along great. There is a lot of experience in the team and a lot of things to take in but so far everything is awesome and I’m looking forward to kicking the season off at round one.

Recovering from the injuries…

Things are on the improve now. The last half of last year seemed like I went from injury to injury with a succession of them in a row, so this time I have been a little more patient with things and not tried to rush back on the bike. I hurt my hand at the Intercontinental Challenge in Spain. As soon as I got home, I went in for surgery. I was desperate to get back on the bike, but the team told me not to panic and let it heal properly. So, I have been back on the bike a few times now and I’m starting to feel good again. There was a little bit of discomfort at the start, but now it seems strong, and my pace is starting to pick up again.

Image: Supplied.

The difference from your previous bikes to the YRT R1M…

With my past team and Dad looking after them, my bikes have got better with each season as he learned more, our budgets got a little bigger and I also developed as a rider in knowing what I like, so there was progress each season. When I get on a YRT bike, I feel like I’m hoping on a bike that is already developed and it’s just up to me to fine tune it. Everything I need is already there. It has power and it has handling, so it’s just up to me to let the team know what works for me and how we can translate that into faster lap times. But so far, I’m super impressed with the bike and each time on it, the better we get. And the faster I go, the better the bike seems to work and the more I learn about it.

Goals for the season…

To improve my consistency from race to race and round to round and finish the championship on the podium. Last year my pace increased, and I was able to race up the front, now the goal is to be there all the time and, on every track, and then that should turn into a championship podium at the end of the season. I wouldn’t mind winning a round or two along the way either.