Newsletter : 2025 World Technician Grand Prix Crowns Top Yamaha Motorcycle Mechanics --Twenty-Two of the World's Best Yamaha Technicians Compete at First WTGP in Seven Years--

The 2025 edition of the World Technician Grand Prix (WTGP), a global contest where Yamaha-certified motorcycle technicians compete against each other with their skills, was held on November 19 at Yamaha Motor's headquarters in Japan. This year marked the first event in seven years following the COVID-19 pandemic, and 22 technicians from 19 countries-each having won their respective regional qualifiers-gathered to compete for the title of "World's No. 1 Yamaha Motorcycle Technician."

■A Special WTGP Commemorating the Company's 70ᵗʰ Anniversary


Yamaha Motor's motorcycle sales network spans 180 countries and territories, and within it are technicians with outstanding skills helping customers enjoy their motorcycling lives. Yamaha operates a globally unified training program called the Yamaha Technical Academy (YTA) to ensure that the same high-quality service skills and standards are found in every market the company operates in. Today, there are around 35,700 YTA-certified technicians worldwide, and the WTGP was started in 2002 to be a world competition where these technicians showcase their skills. Due to postponement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this WTGP was the first in seven years, but it was also elevated to be a commemorative event for Yamaha's 70th anniversary. It was streamed online with commentary for the first time and was by far the most exciting WTGP to date. The event's slogan was "Master Your Craft, Make Your Mark," and a total of 22 participants from 19 countries and territories competed in either the Sports Model or Commuter Model class, showcasing the skills they have honed daily toward vying for the title of World's No. 1 Yamaha Motorcycle Technician.


　The WTGP has two parts: Technical Skills and Customer Relations. The former uses vehicles prepared with malfunctions or faults to test a comprehensive set of maintenance skills-from failure diagnosis to repair, point inspections, and final checks. The latter evaluates hospitality and communication skills, such as clear explanations to customers of the work and inspections performed. The tension in the venue was palpable as each technician applied their polished technical skills and knowledge to the competition, striving to leave their mark in the history of the prestigious event.

■Elite Yamaha Technicians Competing for Glory with Pride


Each mechanic brought great aspirations with them to the event, not only shouldering the hopes of their home countries but also their pride as true professionals of their trade. Unsurprisingly, each class and portion of the WTGP transformed into a high-level contest, with extremely close contests unfurling in both the Sports Model class and the Commuter Model class.
　In the end, the Sports Model class was won by Liam Coffey from the United Kingdom, a veteran technician with over 25 years of experience. In the Commuter Model class, Juan Cruz Lunad Rocha from Argentina-nicknamed "The Relentless Resolve"-claimed the No. 1 title. At the awards ceremony, Coffey gave a big fist pump and beamed from his victory: "It's been a privilege, but it's been quite stressful! I had a great time, but I'm glad I won't need to do another one!" When the mic was passed to Rocha, he swelled with emotion. "I want to say this is the biggest honor of my life. It was a hard competition, and I think we are all the best of the best. Thank you all. This is for my Yamaha Argentina family," he said, embracing the service staff from Yamaha Motor Argentina S.A. (YMARG) who had supported him throughout the grueling competition.


　Yamaha Motor president SHITARA, Motofumi, who served as the presenter at the awards ceremony, praised all the competitors and sent them off with words of encouragement: "Our goal is to provide services that exceed customer expectations, ensuring they enjoy their Yamaha experience with safety, comfort, and peace of mind, so that when the time comes, they choose Yamaha again. To achieve this, the role of Yamaha technicians is essential. I sincerely hope that each of you will take the experience gained here back to your respective countries and become role models as Yamaha technicians, helping to grow the Yamaha fanbase even further. I look forward to seeing you again at the next WTGP in 2027."







This year's WTGP drew global attention and the excitement was palpable at the venue. I attended the award ceremony myself, and seeing the international roster of competitors' joy, tears, and mutual respect for each other brought Kando for me as well. Seeing these technicians' passion for and devotion to honing their skills made me realize anew how their expertise puts smiles on customers' faces and enriches their motorcycling lives. It also gave me a deeper respect for the thousands of Yamaha technicians working around the world. The next WTGP is scheduled to be held in 2027.

MATSUO, Kaoru