Yamaha’s Technical Academy has successfully conducted its third Marine Technician Grand Prix. The 2006 event has been hailed as the best ever.

The Marine Tech GP is the culmination of two years of YTA training activities aimed at raising the proficiency of all Yamaha technicians in the Oceania market ensuring customers receive outstanding after-sales service.

The event involves gruelling practical tasks and a tough theoretical test undertaken by a select group of marine service staff at YMA’s headquarters in Sydney.

Following the examinations, this year the technicians were treated to the ‘Yamaha Experience’. This means they sampled the products they spend so much time and effort working with, plus they also had the opportunity to experience motorcycle, all terrain and side-by-side vehicles from Yamaha’s extensive range of lifestyle products.

As a reward for their efforts, water vehicles, ATVs, dirt bikes and the versatile Rhino were waiting for the 11 finalists on Stockton
Beach, NSW. And all finalists also enjoyed a surprise sightseeing helicopter flight from Anna Bay to Sydney harbour and back.

YMA’s Marine Training Administrator Dan Power says: “Judging by the comments we have received from the 11 finalists, this Grand Prix event has been the best yet. The technicians genuinely appreciated the product orientation and VIP hospitality we arranged for them.”

The 11 technicians were selected from over 200 applicants working in Yamaha dealerships across Australia and New Zealand. The finalists arrived at YMA HQ from every region and underwent a computerised theory examination and 11 practical tasks that covered subjects such as fault diagnosis, product knowledge and customer service.

The results were the closest ever, with Bob Thompson from In and Outboard Marine Darwin scooping the top honours. “I was lucky enough to attend the first Marine Tech GP in 2002 and that experience has stood me in good stead,” said an elated Thompson who represented NSW’s Terrace Boating at the inaugural event. “Yamaha service staff have been fantastic, especially Rob Dalbello from the SA office whose teaching skills and motivation inspired me to have another go,” added the 54-year-old. Bob now embarks on a tour of Yamaha’s Marine Division Sanshin factory in Japan.

Runner up was Albany technician Jamie Kiddle from Watercraft Marine in WA. Jamie was also runner up in the 2004 Marine Tech GP but was not put off entering again in order to have a tilt at the top step of the podium. “Yamaha is to be commended for shining the spotlight on technicians, everyone should have a go at this fantastic event,” Kiddle remarked.

The next Yamaha Marine Technician Grand Prix happens in 2008, where Dan Power admits it will be a tough task to raise the already high standard achieved by this year’s event.

Editor’s note:
The Yamaha Marine Technician GP pits the top Yamaha service technicians in the country against each other to find out who is the best of the best. The aim of the event is to recognise and motivate technicians to achieve the goal of exceeding customers after sales service expectations. Please help us achieve this goal by highlighting this event. Previous winners are:
2002: Ian Coops, Hunts Marine
2004: Keith Falkenhagen, Sundown Marine