Rachel Archer Signs with AmPro Yamaha
Monday, September 24, 2018 | 9:20 AM
Cambridge student Rachael Archer is about to fulfill her dream of riding for a professional motocross team in the US.
The 16-year-old from St Peter's, Cambridge, has signed on to ride for Yamaha, on a YZ250FX in the US later this year.
She will spend the 2019 season racing in the women's grade of the Grand National Cross Country Championships (GNCC).
"I raced a couple of GNCC events over there last year, then riding a 125cc bike," Archer said.
"I settled in pretty quickly and got up to speed pretty quickly too."
Finishing seventh in the women's grade at round one, Archer went on in round two to finish fourth.
"I'll be on a 250cc bike now and I'm going faster now than I was then."
Archer was offered the chance to race in the US following a recommendation from fellow Kiwi rider Paul Whibley, to Yamaha team boss Randy Hawkins.
"This opportunity is super exciting and means I can continue to grow and pursue my dream of being a pro-racer."
Her mentor, Whibley, was a two-time winner of the GNCC series in 2009, 2012 and was a record six-time winner of the parallel Off-Road Motorcycle and ATV series.
He was New Zealand cross country champion for Yamaha in 2015.
"I am pretty excited to see Randy come on board with some support for Rachael," said Whibley.
"I'm thrilled to see her have her foot in the door in the US, but it's icing on the cake that she's now with Yamaha too."
It's expected the teenager will adapt, as she gets to know the tracks in the US and how the team operates.
"She will be extremely competitive over there. She showed that during her first trip there last year," Whibley said.
"She is one of the youngest competitors in the class, but she has the work ethic and drive and I know she can be a champion."
Her contract starts on October 1.
- Andy McGechan writes for BikesportNZ.com