We take the 2022 Yamaha YZ250 and throw it back to 2002, the year Chad Reed burst onto the AMA scene.
STORY MATT BERNARD PHOTOGRAPHY ADAM SPENCE
The year was 2002. A young Aussie by the name of Chad Reed had arrived in the USA, fresh off a second position in the World Motocross Championship. Chad didn’t want to be in the lites, or 125cc class, he wanted to race the best of the best. However, unproven to the American industry, Reed signed with the Yamaha of Troy powerhouse team, in the 125cc class.
To kick-off his 2002 campaign, Chad stepped onto the Yamaha YZ250 two-stroke, to compete on the opposite coast to his 125cc class.
Despite being an Australian champion, some extra supercross experience after a year in Europe would be invaluable as he set after a first AMA championship.
Chad would race a near stock engine, before proving he could take it to the fast guys and convincing his team to give him some more power. The bike was then worked to boost compression, ported the cylinder and worked the head. The bike was never treated to any factory Yamaha ignition, transmission or works carb, just an FMF exhaust and a V-Force reed block. On his Yamaha of Troy YZ250, Chad would finish 6th, 5th and 8th proving he had arrived in the USA with a bang.
TRIBUTE TO CR103
With this being 20 years since Chad raced the Yamaha YZ250, we set about a little throwback bike. The 2022 Yamaha YZ250, in Chad’s 2002 theme.
The Yamaha YZ250 is an epic machine in standard form, so we set out to fine tune and build this thing into a wicked little weapon. First up, we fitted the full GYTR exhaust system, in the factory finish. The team at Allstyle Mechanical tuned the bike to run crispy with the new exhaust system.
The standard airfilter was removed and replaced with a Funnelweb filter and the standard handlebars were feeling pretty tall, so a set of ODI CFT handlebars were bolted on, as with a set of ODI MX half waffle grips.
To finish off this build, we went for the Yamaha of Troy style with graphics for this beast. We had the full custom graphics made with the chrome dragon in-lay and finished with a glitter finish laminate by Moto Kit.
The team at 202 builds spotted our bike on Instagram and sent across some incredibly cool carbon fibre parts for it. A rear brake master cylinder cover, a front master cylinder cover and some carbon fibre engine mounts. Absolute factory touches.
To keep the Yamaha running fresh, the only lubes and oils we use in the YZ are the Yamalube range. Their mini chain lube is a super cool product for being in the van or tool box, while the Yamalube Airfilter oil worked really well combined with the FWF filter.
JOB DONE
After some time in the workshop, it was a real sight and sound to witness the bike in action. With a kick of the leg and a flick of the risk, the throaty GYTR exhaust note echoed through the trees. Ahead of rider Mat McEntee was a supercross track, home to some of Australia’s best riders. Despite being equipped with standard suspension, the YZ was an absolute blast on the track. McEntee linked sections, smashed berms as the sound bounced around the circuit. We hope we did Reedy proud.