Hayes, who came to Australian for the first time in 2018 finished the season in third place in the SX2 category on his Serco Yamaha YZ250F, is pleased to return and looking forward to racing the Australian Championship again.

“I had an amazing time in Australia last year and the Serco Yamaha team really looked after me so it was good to be able to hook up with Gavin and his team again and build on our relationship,” Hayes explains.

“This year I feel I will be a little more prepared on several levels as I have raced the 2019 season in the US on a YZ250F as well as I now know how the Australian series works as well as a better understanding of the level of racing there.

“There are some quality riders in SX2 in Australia and I loved racing them last year. I’m planning on them being even better again in 2019 so my preparations will need to be good. Last year I was third after a bit of a slow start to the season, so this year the goal is to improve and try and win the championship for myself and the Serco Yamaha team.”

In 2018, Hayes contested the Australian Supercross Championship after the US Arenacross Championship finished up. He was the current AMA Arenacross Champion but since then as worked with the Cycle Trader Yamaha team in the US for the entire racing season. He finished up just outside the top 10 in the AMA West Coast 250cc Supercross Series as he dealt with some injuries and currently sits 14th in the AMA US Motocross 250cc Championship.

“We are excited to have Jacob with us again this year and happy to keep our relationship going from 2018,” states Serco Yamaha’s Gavin Eales. “He is a thorough professional to deal with and puts in 100% every time he is on the track. He adds to our team as well as the presence of Yamaha on the track.

“We have been able to put this deal together with the support of Yamaha Motor Australia, Mega Fuels, Havendeen Roofing as well as our partners at Serco. We plan to have Jacob here prior to the start of the championship so he can get set up and acclimated here before the opening round in Brisbane on October 12.

“Jacob will be a great bench mark and training partner for Nathan and Aaron as all three can work together and push themselves to a higher limit. We already have plenty of things under way and look forward to the start of the series,” Eales ends.

The Australian Supercross Championship kicks off on October 12 in Brisbane before moving to Adelaide, Wollongong, Auckland in NZ and the finale at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on November 30.

Serco Yamaha SX Team 2019
#5- Jacob Hayes
#18 – Aaron Tanti
#199 – Nathan Crawford

2019 ASX Calendar
Rd1: Brisbane Entertainment Centre – October 12
Rd2: Adelaide – Gillman Speedway – Oct 19
Rd3: Wollongong – Win Stadium – Nov 9
Rd4: Auckland NZ- Mt Smart Stadium – Nov 16
Rd5: Melbourne – Marvel Stadium – Nov 30

Photo: Marc Jones