Author Topic: Ross Branch joins Yamaha (Read 874 times)

Kortbroek · « **on:** March 13, 2020, 04:09:50 pm »

Well didn't see this one coming. Ross Branch and Andrew Short join the Monster Energey Yamaha Rally team for the 2020 rally season and 2021 Dakar Rally.

https://www.yamaha-racing.com/more-rally/news/monster-energy-yamaha-rally-official-team-welcome-andrew-short-a/?fbclid=IwAR2DgYZXFAXerIx1Jg_Mde3KlY_IxO7JXoNVWwd_Nz-eALxLIhVZ2NkijEs

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Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team Welcome Andrew Short and Ross Branch
Amsterdam, the Netherlands (13 March 2020) - The Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team are excited to announce a strengthened rider line-up for the 2020 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, as Andrew Short and Ross Branch join the squad. Both racers showed impressive pace and the ability to overcome adversity at this year’s Dakar Rally and look set to become key members of the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team.

Andrew Short is one of the world’s most versatile and successful off-road motorcycle racers. A hugely experienced US supercross and motocross competitor, with close to 40 career podium results to his credit, he was also a winning member of the USA’s 2010 Motocross of Nations team.

Calling time on his 16-year supercross and motocross career, the Texas native switched to cross-country rally racing at the end of 2017. Competing in his first Dakar Rally in 2018, Andrew has since completed three Dakars, placed as runner-up in the 2019 Silk Way Rally and won the 2019 Rally du Maroc.

Ross Branch was one of the stand-out performers at the 2020 Dakar Rally. Quickly adjusting to the unpredictable Saudi Arabian terrain, the 33-year-old from Botswana won the event’s second stage, going on to challenge for further wins and take four more top-10 stage results, despite carrying an injury throughout the event.

Competing in his first Dakar Rally in 2019, Ross completed the South American event in 13th overall in the motorcycle class and as the event’s highest-finishing Rookie competitor. He also finished as runner-up in the Merzouga Rally and eighth in the Rally du Maroc in 2019.

Short and Branch were set to make their competitive debut for the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. However, with the opening event of the 2020 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship postponed due to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, the new target is Rally Kazakhstan, which runs from 24-29 May.

Noneking · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2020, 04:38:35 pm »

Jy kan dit nie hier post nie, wat van [mention]2StrokeDan [/mention] se hart??

XT JOE · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2020, 04:56:27 pm »

best friday the 13th news ever

Kortbroek · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2020, 05:46:38 pm »

Quote from: Noneking on March 13, 2020, 04:38:35 pm

Jy kan dit nie hier post nie, wat van @2StrokeDan se hart??

Jy bedoel ek moet dit eerder op sy thread gaan post?

Takashi · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2020, 06:04:32 pm »

Awesome news for Ross.

Sooo stoked that he got a ride!!!

2StrokeDan · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2020, 07:25:53 pm »

Top guy with the top brand.

Life as it should ideally be.

Grunder · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2020, 07:44:15 pm »

Great nuus

Dux · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2020, 09:50:12 pm »

Fantastic , I am stoked for him .

Rynet · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2020, 10:00:03 pm »

Quote from: 2StrokeDan on March 13, 2020, 07:25:53 pm

Top guy with the top brand.

Life as it should ideally be.

He's not with a top brand.
He is with Yamaha.

Just kidding. May they do better than the Europeans.

I'm happy Ross will have better support. It should be a mutually beneficial association.

roxenz · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2020, 08:43:20 am »

This is such good news - stoked for Ross! He doesn't have to win 2021, but if Yamaha gets a decent bike together, he may just compete for a podium finish. That would be awesome!

2StrokeDan · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2020, 05:34:43 pm »

Quote from: Rynet on March 13, 2020, 10:00:03 pm

Quote from: 2StrokeDan on March 13, 2020, 07:25:53 pm
Top guy with the top brand.

Life as it should ideally be.
He's not with a top brand.
He is with Yamaha.

Just kidding. May they do better than the Europeans.
I'm happy Ross will have better support. It should be a mutually beneficial association.

Things are on the turn-around, and I believe the Japanese will start reeling in their rightful places at the top of podiums again.

sidetrack · « **Reply #11 on:** March 15, 2020, 05:39:18 pm »

Quote from: 2StrokeDan on March 14, 2020, 05:34:43 pm

Quote from: Rynet on March 13, 2020, 10:00:03 pm
Quote from: 2StrokeDan on March 13, 2020, 07:25:53 pm
Top guy with the top brand.

Life as it should ideally be.
He's not with a top brand.
He is with Yamaha.

Just kidding. May they do better than the Europeans.
I'm happy Ross will have better support. It should be a mutually beneficial association.

Things are on the turn-around, and I believe the Japanese will start reeling in their rightful places at the top of podiums again.

Yes Yamaha getting serious now that Honda has won. The last 15 years the Dakar was a bit of an after thought for the Japanese

shark_za · « **Reply #12 on:** March 15, 2020, 10:14:50 pm »

A paid for 4th best Dakar bike beats any bike you need to fork out P1million for.

big oil · « **Reply #13 on:** March 16, 2020, 03:22:52 am »

Quote from: Rynet on March 13, 2020, 10:00:03 pm

Quote from: 2StrokeDan on March 13, 2020, 07:25:53 pm
Top guy with the top brand.

Life as it should ideally be.
He's not with a top brand.
He is with Yamaha.

Just kidding. May they do better than the Europeans.
I'm happy Ross will have better support. It should be a mutually beneficial association.

Yamaha is the top brand, best small engine builder there is.

Yamaha and Honda allowed the Europeans to catch up and surpass

Now it's time for Yamaha and Honda to takeover again.

Crankshaft · « **Reply #14 on:** March 16, 2020, 09:11:11 am »

This is awesome news. I really hope that he does well in the upcoming races.

2StrokeDan · « **Reply #15 on:** March 16, 2020, 09:57:28 am »

Quote from: shark_za on March 15, 2020, 10:14:50 pm

A paid for 4th best Dakar bike beats any bike you need to fork out P1million for.

And if you cannot have the most expensive, then the most reliable is the wise choice.

BullFrog · « **Reply #16 on:** March 16, 2020, 10:58:59 am »

Nice one, Ross!!!!

I'm glad his potential and talent was noticed.

Could not have gone to a nicer guy.

sidetrack · « **Reply #17 on:** March 16, 2020, 11:20:02 am »

So has Soulstreet and Van Beveren given the boot or will they still be riding for Yamaha France ?

Welsh · « **Reply #18 on:** March 16, 2020, 01:13:30 pm »

I wonder if he gets a T7 in the package.

2StrokeDan · « **Reply #19 on:** March 16, 2020, 05:41:40 pm »

Quote from: Welsh on March 16, 2020, 01:13:30 pm

I wonder if he gets a T7 in the package.

Only when he wins the 2023 title.