The ShopYamaha Off-Road Team may have lost one of the biggest names in off-road racing in Kyron Bacon now riding for Kawasaki in Europe, but the prodigal son has returned in the form of Wil Ruprecht.
After leaving Australian shores at the end of 2018 as the E1 AORC Champion, Ruprecht has enjoyed a successful stint racing the World Enduro Championships, highlighted with a world Championship in 2022, one of only four Australian racers to do so.
But the desire to return to Australia was strong and Ruprecht has reconnected with his former team, the one that assisted in launching his international career, and so he will race alongside Will Dennett in the ShopYamaha Off Road Team.
Ruprecht, now 26, will be 450cc mounted and contest the E2 division, going head-to-head with Daniel Milner in a mouthwatering rivalry for the Australian Enduro Championship.
Ruprecht has adapted well to being back on the Yamaha and is feeling strong leading into the championship after logging plenty of hours on the bike as well as running through an extensive test program.
The Rider
Wil Ruprecht
“I’m just really looking forward to getting the season started,” Ruprecht begins. “It’s been a while since I raced, so I’m keen to get back in a competitive environment and test myself and my bike against the competition.
“It’s not far away now, so hopefully the conditions are good and the first weekend of the Australian Enduro Championship sets a high standard of racing.”
Ruprecht, a former World Enduro Champion, has spent extensive time dialling in his setup and working closely with the team to ensure he hits the ground running at Kempsey. After a successful return to Yamaha, he is eager to showcase his form against Australia’s best enduro talent.
“I have remained in contact with AJ over the years and he has been a bit of a sounding board for my career during my time in Europe, so when I mentioned to him that I was thinking of coming home, he was quickly able to get something together for me.
“Europe and racing the World Enduro Championships has been an amazing experience where I have met and worked with some great people and I wouldn’t change it, but the time was right to come back to Australia. AJ always told me something would be here for me when I came back, so I’m excited to work with him again.
“It’s also come at a good time as MA are revamping the Australian Championship with a new look and some changes to the racing, and hopefully I can assist them in achieving a higher profile for off road racing in Australia.
“So far things are going well and I’m settling back into the Australian way of life, but the opening rounds aren’t too far away so it’s time to get serious and get after it,” Ruprecht ends.
Team Manager
AJ Roberts
ShopYamaha Off-Road Team Manager AJ Roberts has been instrumental in preparing the squad for the season ahead. With years of experience in guiding top riders to championship success, Roberts is confident the team is in top shape for the opener.
The boys have been putting in the work, and Roberts is happy where they were heading into Kempsey.
“Firstly, I would like to thank Kyron and his dad, Andrew for their efforts over the past few years and we hope that we have been able to provide him with a platform to race successfully at the highest level,” explains ShopYamaha Team Manager, AJ Roberts. “It’s been a long time of goal of Kyron’s, and we are proud to have assisted and supported him on that journey. We know he will do his best and will always be welcomed at our team.
“But it’s team Will for 2025 and we are ready for an exciting year. The rebranding of the championship, plus having Ruprecht back, will only enhance off-road racing in Australia and already he has been an assist to the team with testing and knowledge.
“We are also looking for big things from Will Dennett. He is just finding his feet in the E2 class and enters 2025 with some much-needed experience and a little more maturity in his riding and training.
With the Yamaha squad primed and ready, all eyes are on the season opener to see how Ruprecht and his teammates perform against a competitive field.
5 THINGS WE DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT WIL RUPRECHT
- He is a former World Enduro Champion.
- This is his first season back on Yamaha after racing overseas.
- Will has spent time training with some of Australia’s top motocross riders to refine his speed.
- He prefers technical and demanding terrain over fast, open tracks.
- He made his name internationally before stepping up as one of Australia’s top enduro prospects.
