51FIFTY Energy Drink/Yamaha announced today that Tyler Bowers and Hayden Mellross will make up the roster for the Yamaha support team. This comes as no surprise as both riders were previously listed for the team in the bLU cRU support teams announcement.
Bowers joins the team after riding for Mitch Payton’s Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki squad full-time for two seasons and racking up four Amsoil Arenacross Championships before that.
"I'm excited to join 51FIFTY and the bLU cRU," said Bowers. "I've been riding and testing with the team for several weeks now and the bike is really strong. Right out of the gate I noticed how great the bike handled and was impressed at how well the team works together. I see great potential in the team and expect, working with our staff, to elevate the team as whole and put myself in position up front where I know I belong."
The signing of Bowers certainly elevates the Yamaha support team to potential race winners heading into the 2017 season as Bowers already has one supercross win to his name and has mixed it up with the other title contenders in the past.
"Tyler has an aggressive riding style, and is someone who will put up a fight for race wins," states team manager Craig Monty. "That's a great quality for a racer and an attribute that's important to the rest of the team. This is our sixth year in the supercross series and we continue to grow with each season. We're fired up to have a rider of Tyler's caliber join the team."
Hayden Mellross returns to the team for the second-straight year after putting in a solid rookie season effort. Hayden will continue training with Tim Ferry, as he did in '16.
“I’m stoked to return to the 51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha team,” said Mellross. “We had a solid rookie season together and it’s nice to be back with all the familiar faces. I’m fired up for this year and ready to keep the pre-season momentum rolling into Anaheim.”
Mellross is hungry heading into the season as he lost out on the Australian 250SX Championship this off-season due to a mechanical failure.
