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The World Technician Grand Prix 2025—a global competition for Yamaha motorcycle technicians—will be held in Japan on November 19 under the slogan of “Master Your Craft, Make Your Mark.” Twenty-two competitors from around the world who won their respective regional qualifiers will showcase their skills in an elite showdown to win the title of “No. 1 Yamaha Motorcycle Technician.” The event will also commemorate Yamaha Motor’s 70th anniversary and will be livestreamed for the first time.

Seeking to Be the Best of 35,000 YTA-Certified Technicians

SEINO, Takahiro is flying the flag for Japan at the World Technician Grand Prix (WTGP) 2025 scheduled for November 19. “During the finals of Japan’s national qualifier, I was so nervous that my hands were shaking and my mind went completely blank at times!” he says with a smile, reflecting on the experience. “But as I focused during the technical skills part, it got more and more enjoyable, and I remembered how fascinating motorcycle maintenance really is!” Conquering Japan’s highly competitive National Technician Grand Prix on just his second attempt, he will now compete against motorcycle technicians from around the world for the No. 1 title.

Yamaha Motor’s motorcycle sales network spans 180 countries and territories, and within that network are technicians supporting customers’ motorcycling lifestyles with their exceptional maintenance skills. To ensure customers receive high-quality technical service meeting Yamaha standards in any country or region, Yamaha Motor runs the globally standardized Yamaha Technical Academy (YTA) training program, and there are approximately 35,000 YTA-certified technicians at work worldwide. The WTGP, which began in 2002 and marks its ninth edition this year, is the global stage for these technicians to showcase their maintenance skills.

The First WTGP In Seven Years Due to the Pandemic

“The WTGP this time is also commemorating our 70th anniversary, and as it's the first event in seven years due to the pandemic, both the countries sending their contestants and all of us staff at the headquarters preparing for it are more enthusiastic than ever,” states MATSUMURA, Yogi from the Customer Experience Business Unit. The slogan for the 2025 tournament, which will see 22 mechanics from 19 countries and regions participating, is “Master Your Craft, Make Your Mark.” The technicians will compete in either the Sports Model Class or Commuter Class for the title of No. 1 Yamaha Motorcycle Technician, putting their maintenance and customer service skills to the test. And for the first time, the event will be livestreamed worldwide with commentary.

The technical skills part of the WTGP presents a scenario in which a customer’s beloved motorcycle is brought into the shop with an unknown issue. “Technicians must identify multiple hidden causes of the trouble and perform the right repairs within the time limit,” explains Matsumura. “When a contestant successfully completes the repair work and the engine fires up, as the sound fills the tense air of the venue, the spectators cheer and clap for them every time.”

The WTGP also offers motorcycle enthusiasts a chance to see how their bikes are handled in the workshop. “We hope that people watching the livestream will enjoy seeing what professionals at the pinnacle of motorcycle maintenance can do and feel the tension in the venue—much like experiencing a new Olympic event for the first time,” Matsumura continues. When asked again about the event’s highlights, he adds: “It's not just about having excellent technical skills; how a competitor interacts with the customer to bring them peace of mind is actually a major factor in who takes the final prize.”

World Technician Grand Prix (WTGP)
Yamaha motorcycle technicians from around the world proudly test their skills as they compete in the Grand Prix.
https://global.yamaha-motor.com/business/mc/customer-support/wtgp/

Message from the Editor
The WTGP evaluates not just technical skills but also customer service skills, making it a real comprehensive assessment of every mechanic’s abilities. Even if you are completely unfamiliar with this aspect of motorcycles, I think this event is a great opportunity to experience and gain a greater understanding of the depth—and the appeal—of motorcycle maintenance.

MATSUO Kaoru, PR Group, Corporate Communication Division (YMC)