Craig Dack
CDR Yamaha Staff Proprietor
Craig Dack has skilled and seen nearly all the pieces the game can throw at an individual, but 2025 nonetheless managed to check his CDR Yamaha outfit in new and imaginative methods. Accidents, substitute riders, troublesome calendars and the rise of World Supercross all collided to create one of the vital difficult seasons in current reminiscence. So the timing felt proper to test in with the person himself.
Throughout fifteen minutes that stretched longer than both of us deliberate, Dack unpacked the yr, the conflict between AUSX and WSX, rider growth, shrinking fields, pathways to America, why Australia retains producing world-class expertise, and had some fairly agency views on Dean Ferris’ shock comeback…
Tom Reynolds, MCNews: Craig, we’re speaking particularly about Australian Supercross, however you actually can’t discuss supercross with out trying on the wider season. As we come to the tip of 2025, it felt like a troublesome yr for CDR. A great SX2 outcome with Ryder Kingsford profitable the title for Yamaha, however total, the (Supercross) season seemed like a little bit of a raffle. How did it really feel out of your aspect?
Craig Dack: “We have been on the again foot from the beginning of the yr, principally, when Aaron Tanti broke his neck in January, getting ready for the season. With Jed Beaton and him – you’d say Jed was our motocross man and Aaron was our supercross man – however Aaron was off the bike for six months recovering. That clearly didn’t assist his supercross season.
“To interchange him for motocross, we introduced in Maximus Purvis from Yamaha New Zealand, and he had an entire bunch of accidents when he was with us. Then, as we all know, Jed was main the motocross championship by 30 factors with two rounds to go and broke his femur in a observe crash. In order that explains the problems we had main into supercross.
“We didn’t have Jed in any respect, and Aaron had been off the bike for six months, solely again for a couple of month earlier than supercross. Then we went out attempting to supply US riders as a result of everybody right here was already contracted. We knew Phil Nicoletti wasn’t going to be on tempo as a result of he’s retired, however he’s extremely popular, so he will get nice publicity. We went that approach. The opposite American, Mitchell Harrison… we didn’t know a lot about him. Clearly, results-wise, we weren’t joyful, however we weren’t anticipating large issues both.
“And since World Supercross got here alongside, riders who would usually be obtainable to do Australian Supercross – riders at Dean Wilson’s degree – are actually contracted to WSX groups, and that championship runs by the identical interval. So there have been quite a lot of causes that labored towards us this yr.”
MCNews: I needed to speak about that. For followers, having AUSX and WSX on the identical weekend was like a humiliation of riches, however for the trade, it seemed troubling. What was your tackle the conflict, and M.A. granting permits for each occasions?
Dack: “It ought to by no means have occurred. It’s a disgrace on our trade that it occurred. I’m not saying World Supercross shouldn’t be right here – it ought to, as a result of it’s an ideal product and it was an ideal occasion – however to conflict on one in all our home rounds, particularly the final spherical… completely not.
“It makes it actually exhausting for the trade, spreading themselves throughout two occasions, however the largest loser is the followers. Lots of the individuals who have been at WSX in Queensland didn’t go to Marvel Stadium. These folks deserved to see Hunter and Jett Lawrence, in addition to Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb, in Queensland.
“It was a kick within the enamel for the followers, and it ought to by no means have occurred. I’ll do my finest to push for it by no means to occur once more.”
MCNews: Final yr, Kayden Minear did so nicely (occurring to signal a cope with Star Racing Yamaha), so on the Aus X Open presser, I requested Ryder Kingsford whether or not riders in SX2 felt stress to override attempting to be ‘the subsequent Minear.’ Do you suppose younger riders have been overriding this yr?
Dack: “Presumably. However that’s what you get with younger bucks, proper? Many of the actually good guys who find yourself being nice have been those who crashed lots early as a result of they needed to win a lot. After some time, they realise breaking your femur or your leg doesn’t win championships. They develop out of it.
“And the lights are on Australia in the intervening time. We hold popping up with good riders… even Cole Davies, we’ll declare him as Australian… virtually. Then the Lawrences, Chad Reed, and Michael Byrne – Australia has at all times punched above its weight.
“Due to social media and pay-per-view, the Australian sequence is principally a world sequence now. The three supercross championships folks actually watch worldwide are AMA Supercross, World Supercross, and the Australian Supercross Championship. It’s virtually like a world sequence.”
MCNews: On that – how necessary is it to maintain bringing internationals? Final yr’s Aus X Open was lightning in a bottle. This yr, the group was down, and the Lawrence brothers dominated, which seemed nice on paper however created a little bit of a procession. Will we nonetheless want internationals?
Dack: “Sure. We would like the perfect sequence we are able to present. If anybody watched World Supercross – I used to be there – the explanation that occasion was so good was the riders. Whenever you’ve acquired 4 or 5 of the highest riders on the planet dicing inside millimetres for six or seven laps… it was sensible.
“Adam Bailey, a mate of mine and the Aus X Open promoter, put his finest foot ahead. He had offers principally in place with Deegan, Cole Davies, and a few others, however an entire bunch of issues labored towards him. There have been causes these guys pulled out.
“And sure, the group was down a bit. However that occasion has grow to be a little bit of a pilgrimage. You see clumps of individuals from throughout Australia. I truthfully suppose the primary motive the group was down wasn’t that sure names weren’t there. It was as a result of folks had to decide on between going to World Supercross or Marvel.”
MCNews: Concerning rider growth – final yr Darren Lawrence mentioned to me on the Aus X Open he’d do the identical factor once more, get out of Australia early, and by no means actually make it to the ProMX or Aus Supercross ranks. How do you are feeling about that as somebody who has run the premier group in Australia for 30 years?
Dack: “He’s in all probability proper. You’ve acquired to put all of it on the road, take the chance, go over and make it occur. Particularly in supercross, as a result of you could develop early. It’s a unique beast. However not everybody is able to try this. Some folks don’t wish to do it. That’s not good or dangerous – it’s simply actuality.
“There is a pathway right here with Yamaha. Each state has a junior group on the 85cc degree, then MX3 with the Whitten Brothers Racing, then MX2, after which to us. Hopefully, with Yamaha Australia’s relationship with Europe and America, we can assist foster these alternatives abroad. That’s the plan.”
MCNews: You’ve had a rising relationship with Star Yamaha and US groups. Is that one thing you wish to develop additional?
Dack: “Yeah, it’s good. You’re at all times engaged on these relationships. They ship riders out right here – Cooper Webb got here final yr to Marvel, and we helped with their bike.
“The connection has to make sense for them. I can’t drive it on them. The [local] rider has to get the outcomes, after which I marry that up with the connection.”
MCNews: This yr, the fields in Aus Supercross have been smaller, and SX3 had quite a lot of accidents. Whoop pace nonetheless seems to be probably the most important hole between locals and internationals. What do we have to repair that?
Dack: “It goes again to my earlier level. If you wish to go to America, you’ve acquired to go early as a result of Individuals develop up with supercross. Once they come right here and trip our take a look at tracks, they leap all the pieces on the primary lap. It’s second nature. Our riders take time to heat up.
“We’re in a humorous stage. Guys like Luke Clout and Aaron Tanti are our supercross guys, however they’re getting towards the tip of their careers. Supercross in Australia hasn’t been tremendous robust, however it’s beginning to get again on observe. What AME are doing is nice. Yamaha’s 65 Cup is giving juniors an opportunity to trip round a supercross observe and race in actual situations.
“In a number of years, I feel you’ll see the extent decide up once more. I agree it isn’t on the highest proper now, and riders do must raise. The massive factor is getting them on supercross tracks early.”
MCNews: The season timing… might we transfer Aus SX to keep away from WSX? Maybe nearer to ProMX? Is that one thing you’d welcome?
Dack: “Shifting it nearer doesn’t trouble me, however it’s not as simple as you suppose. Discovering venues is the most important problem. Again after I began, soccer stadiums wouldn’t let motorbikes on them – that’s why we used leisure centres. Now stadiums need extra occasions, however scheduling round AFL finals, Supercars, and venue availability is hard.
“Some folks even say run it December–January, however that guidelines out the US guys and makes all the pieces costlier due to the vacation season. I’m open to any dialogue. If September labored higher, I’m not towards it. There are simply causes it hasn’t occurred that approach but.”
MCNews: Lastly, rider comebacks… Dean Ferris. Any ideas on that? And any likelihood of a Craig Dack comeback?
Ferris is coming again to trip for Kawasaki in 2026.
Dack: “(Laughs) If he could make a comeback, I can too. However truthfully… I don’t get it. Dean could make his personal choices, however I’m unsure it’s one of many smartest choices I’ve ever seen. He’s acquired nothing left to show. He’s had quite a lot of huge accidents. I want him all the perfect, however I’m unsure I agree with it.”
MCNews: Craig, mate, thanks for the time. Actually recognize it.
