Aaron Tanti signed with Serco Yamaha in 2019 are slogging it out as a privateer and his factory Yamaha YZ250F is one of the trickest bikes in the field.
Tanti is back again for the 2020 season and even though the racing has been interrupted with the Covid pandemic, both Aaron and his Serco Yamaha team have been working hard to develop and fine-tune his YZ250F, ready for when the national motocross championships commence.
While the Australian MX Nationals was on hold, Tanti flew to America to contest the AMA Supercross West Coast Championship. He placed as high as ninth at the Oakland round and finished 18th in the standings despite not racing the final three rounds in Salt Lake City.
Yamaha Motor Australia gives us a rundown of the machine he’ll be racing once the Australian Motocross Championship kicks off.
In House
Being the importer of several performance products, Serco Yamaha have quick and easy access to many of the parts and components that are on their race bikes. Also owning a machine shop gives them the opportunity to develop or make any special items required or requested. This ability to not only source and import but manufacture items can be a real bonus for any team.
Starting from the Top
Aaron runs a Pro Taper SX Race bend bar mounted on to EZE triple clamps. The clamps are lighter and offer more flex than the OEM units and allow Aaron to have the exact egonomic layout he wants. It’s all finished off with Pro Taper full diamond pattern grips.
Aaron also runs a taller seat form to get him in a more aggressive position on the bike and then mates it to a Factory Effex gripper seat cover to keep him there.
YZ250F Motor
The standard YZ250F motor has been the benchmark in the 250 class for some time now. Other motors might have more power high in the rpm but lack the torque and bottom end pull required for MX. Other brands might have plenty of grunt, but not over rev, where as the YZ has the best of both worlds and right out of the box, its fast and competitive with anything on the track.
But Serco make it better! The head is flowed to increase power, matched to a high compression GYTR piston but still retaining the OEM cams. The motor is controlled by a Vortex X10 ECU that has 10 optional maps as well as clicker adjustments for low mid and high rpm. The exhaust is a Yoshimura and the tight relationship between Serco Yamaha and Yoshimura allows each company to pass on plenty of information to assist each other’s final product.
Needs Air
Maybe the biggest gain in the YZ250F motor can be found by getting clean air into it. Increasing air flow and air purity into the YZ250F motor significantly increases power and as a result, Serco Yamaha have put plenty of time into this area of the bike.
The team recently acquired the CRM carbon air box lid, which is the same used by the factory Wilvo Yamaha team in the MXGP’s. Below that is a No Toil air flow kit that has the screen removed and a cleaner designed air filter to increase air flow. Then that is matched to a YZ450F airboot and the greater volume of the boot gives the bike more power high in the rpm range.
All this is washed down with VP Roo 100 race fuel.
Adding up the gains from the mechanical changes (head, piston), the increased air flow (lid, no screen/ larger airboot) as well as the electronics and fuel, Serco Yamaha has made a significant power increase right across the board and around a 20% gain over standard. That’s a powerful YZ250F.
Getting a handle on it
Now while its all well and good to bump up the HP, making it work on the track is even a bigger task and Serco have left no stone unturned in that regard.
Suspension is valved in house by team tech, Ben Dutton, using KYB components as well as some no stick suspension coatings and SKF seals. Ben has worked with Aaron for the past 18 months and they both have a good understanding of what’s required from the bike when Aaron is on song.
The valving would be considerably firmer across the board as well as spring rates increased to handle the weight, speed and style of Tanti.
The team have also just recently invested in a few more things to improve the handling. The EZE triple clamps improve the front end feel while Aaron also runs an EZE shock linkage which is 1mm longer that lowers the rear and allows the bike to hook up better.
The Small Things
Looking over the Serco Yamaha YZ250F, there are a number of things that can take your eye. One of the team’s technicians, Paul Teasedale, is from the UK and has plenty of connections in the MXGP paddock and as a result, he can source several things. The CRM carbon products come via Paul and the amount on the bike is significant.
The sub frame is carbon, as is the tank, skid plate, the exhaust shields as well as several other smaller protective pieces scattered across the bike. Carbon saves weight and another benefit is that it’s doesn’t add rigidity to the bike like a metal skid plate could.
Another weight saver is the Ti bolt kit. They look flash and aren’t cheap but every gram matters in racing.
The wheels run DID rims laced to EZE hubs and Dunlop development tyres. The front disc is a Galfer 280mm rotor for some extra pucker power, while the OEM rotor is retained on the rear wheel.
Serco’s own in house brand, SPP, are also well represented on the bike and give it the extra bling factor. From the oil filter cover, to the rear brake pedal and the axle blocks, the shiny anodised colours make the bike pop and set it apart from the others.
On Track with the YZ250F
“The bikes at Serco have always been good,” comments Aaron, “but this year we changed a few things and have made a good step forward with both the motor and suspension. We have been able to find more power in the right areas, as well as improve the handling both via testing with Ben but also some of the components we used.
“When I head to the start line, I have no question I’m on the best bike in the field and its just up to me to ride it properly and bring home the best results I can,” Tanti ends.
Specs – Aaron Tanti’s YZ250F
Chassis
Handlebar bend: Pro Taper SX Race
Grips: Pro Taper – full diamond
Triple clamps: EZE clamps
Fork: KYB with coatings
Shock: KYB with coatings
Linkage: EZE shock linkage
Wheels: EZE hubs
Tyres: Dunlop
Seat Cover: Factory Effex with tall seat form
Brake rotors: Galfer 280mm front rotor
Motor
Head: OEM – Serco modified
Cams: OEM
Piston: GYTR
ECU: Vortex
Exhaust: Yoshimura
Clutch: Hinson
Fuel: VP Roo 100
Footpegs: OEM
Chain: Pro Taper
Sprockets: Pro Taper / 13-50
CRM Carbon Items
Sub frame
Air box lid
Skid Plate
Tank
Exhaust guard
Misc
Footpeg armour
Ti bolt kit
GYTR ignition cover
GYTR radiator protectors
Hinson clutch cover
Factory Effex Radiator hoses
Factory Effex Seat cover and taller seat foam
Serco Performance Products
Oil filter cover
rear brake pedal
Chain blocks
Graphics
Words and Pics: Yamaha Motor Australia