Yamaha celebrate 30th Anniversary of Craig Dack Racing

news7g08/12/2023

1 5 minutes read

Yamaha celebrate 30th Anniversary of Craig Dack Racing

CDR Racing and Yamaha

Yamaha Motor Australia enjoyed a double celebration with the 50th anniversary of the YZ range and the 30th anniversary of Craig Dack Racing.

Yamaha Celebrates at QMP – Image Endorphin Media

Former, riders, team members and media came together under the CDR Yamaha Team awning to commemorate the occasion.

As part of the celebrations, Stephen Gall discussed his career with Yamaha spanning four decades and bought along his 1974 YZ250A to display alongside the 2024 YZ250. Gall spoke of his time at Yamaha racing and his favourite bikes during his career.

Craig Dack then joined the chat and made mention of his successful working relationship with long term sponsors, Yamaha Motor Australia, Dunlop, Pro Circuit as well as FOX who presented the team riders with the special edition apparel to mark the occasion.

Craig Dack

“I would like to thank everyone involved in making this a special day for me. It’s nice to get the recognition for the past 30 years and so good to see so many people here to be a part of it. It’s been a rewarding 30 years and I still get a lot of satisfaction from what I do every day and enjoy being surrounded and working with a group of dedicated, determined, and focused people. Thanks to everyone who has been a part of the CDR journey and look forward to continuing the very successful journey we started all the way back in 1993.”

The race bikes were revealed today in their 50th anniversary of the YZ range livery with the riders also sporting retro colour schemes on their kit.

Matt Ferry – Yamaha Sales Manager

“On behalf of Yamaha Motor Australia and our senior management, congratulations on your tremendous milestone of 30years operating Craig Dack Racing. You are an integral part of our racing activities in Australia and always represent Yamaha at the highest level. 30 years in this sport running a race team is no easy achievement and is testament to your ongoing will to always win.”

Craig Dack with current team riders Luke Clout and Aaron Tanti

Where did it all Begin?

Craig Dack post race 1988 — Craig Dack post race in 1988

in 1992 Craig Dack was nearing the end of a spectacular career that saw him crowned with Four Mr Motocross Championships and multiple Australian motocross and supercross winner. He often arranged his own sponsors and partners during his racing career and when Yamaha needed someone to take the reins of their motocross team, Dack thrust his name forward.

Craig Dack, Brian Collins team launch, hosted by Neil Crompton, 1988

“I had long looked after my own racing and in the last couple of years, Phillip Morris, with the cigarette sponsorship were major players in supporting myself and Yamaha. They were supporting and encouraging of my move into race team management and ownership when my racing days ended and through a few meetings with Yamaha, it was decided for me to manage the race team from 1993,” Dack explained.

Left To Right T Willinson, Peter Melton, J Collins, Craig Dack, Ross McWatters — 1990 Marlboro Yamaha Dealer Team – Left To Right
T Willinson, Peter Melton, J Collins, Craig Dack, Ross McWatters

The move was done and Dack hasn’t turned a wheel in anger since his last race of 1992 and has been at the helm of CDR ever since. The team has morphed throughout the 30 years to the changing racing business land scape. From team management to team ownership, from semi-professional riders to full time racers, from part time mechanics to a small army of dedicated people desperate for success, racing has certainly changed in that time.

Craig Dack action photo 1988 — Craig Dack – 1988

“I’m proud to have such a long-term association with a lot of the companies I dealt with in my racing days. Yamaha, Fox, and Dunlop, have been in the trenches with CDR since the beginning and we have had plenty of long-term partners that have worked with us over the years. Monster Energy have proved to be a very loyal and dedicated supporter in recent times, and I enjoy working with passionate people who strive for success, so our business ideals align,” Dack continues.

Classic Dirt 2016 - Craig Dack's Championship winning Yamaha YZ250 - Image by Greg Smith — Classic Dirt 2016 – Craig Dack’s Championship winning Yamaha YZ250 – Image by Greg Smith

CDR have ventured into the off-road world with considerable success and now are taking the team to the Global Supercross stage.

From a small Pantech style truck to a 32 tonne semi-trailer and talking to major international companies and competing all over the world, the CDR team continues to grow but the DNA of the team remains the same. Offer the best products, with the best technical support and the best environment to achieve the best results and over 40 championships later, it’s proved a winning formula.

“I still get to work just as excited and motivated today as I did back when we first started. There are always issues and challenges to face and goals to achieve and I still feel lucky to be able to do what I do and be surrounded by people who share the same vision as me,” Dack ends.

MX Nationals Rnd Gladstone mx Ferris Dack — Dean Ferris celebrates with Craig Dack at Gladstone in 2018

Who’s who of Australian Motocross

30 years in the business means a lot of riders have passed through the CDR Yamaha doors over the time. Many have gone onto achieve higher acclaim at a worlds level, most of racked up championship success and several have extended their already successful careers with CDR guidance.