Stauffer and McDonald join 2020 GTR MotoStars Team

A new team will make its Australian racing debut in 2020, with a couple of veterans of the sport joining forces to create the newly formed “GTR MotoStars Team.” The new Yamaha backed racing program formed by our own contributor Heath Griffin and Damian Cudlin will compete in the Supersport 300, R3 Cup and Supersport 600 classes in the 2020 ASBK.

Max Stauffer – Image by TBG Sport

The GTR MotoStars Team will field 13-years-young Archie McDonald on a pair of Yamaha R3’s and will be joined in the garage by 16 year old Max Stauffer on his Yamaha R6’s.

Archie is a current Australian Junior Dirt Track Champion and turned to road racing just over a year ago- learning the craft at MotoStars training and coaching days. He soon became a regular race winner at MotoStars Nationals and went onto compete in the inaugural Oceania Junior Cup in 2019– a season that featured race wins and 4th in the series.

Archie McDonald – “I’m absolutely thrilled and immensely proud to represent the GTR MotoStars Team in 2020. I come from a dirt track background and am still relatively new to road racing. I raced in the OJC last year and always maintained a strong dedication to the MotoStars training and coaching days under the guidance of Damian Cudlin. Having the opportunity to work with him again, Heath Griffin and Jamie Stauffer, while being teamed up with Max Stauffer is every kids dream. I have to thank everyone who’s helped me reach this point and I can’t wait for Round One.”

Archie is one of two new recruits for the GTR MotoStarts team, and will be competing on a pair of Yamaha R3’s.

Coming from a successful 2019, notching up lap records and race wins in the Supersport 300 and R3 Cup classes, Max Stauffer will make the jump up to the Supersport 600 aboard the class leading Yamaha YZF-R6 under the watchful eye of his Dad, crew chief, and ASBK Champ, Jamie Stauffer.

Max Stauffer – “I’m grateful for the opportunity  and I want to learn as much as I can in 2020. Working with the team is a dream come true. I’m really excited to step up to the 600 class and I hope to mix it up at the pointy end as soon as I can.”

Max Stauffer will jump up to the Supersport 600’s class for 2020.

With two very talented young riders, the aim of the GTR MotoStars Team is to bring through and develop outstanding talent within Australia, forging a pathway starting from MotoStars, to OJC, onto 300s and eventually Supersport 600.

Damian Cudlin – “Since the inception of MotoStars I’ve worked with plenty of talent here in Australia that just need more opportunities to succeed. When Heath came to me with the idea of building a pathway for riders from MotoStars to ASBK, I was keen to be a part of it, and thankfully Yamaha and a host of our sponsors were too.”

Heath Griffin – “I’m extremely excited to be able to offer this opportunity for two exceptionally talented young Australian riders in Max and Archie to progress their road racing careers through our GTR Motorstars Team program for 2020. I believe we have put together a great group of people to be able to support and progress our riders, and help them maximise their potential. In Damian Cudlin we have Australia’s premier junior road racing coach to assist in our rider’s development both on and off the track, as well as providing technical and strategic advice to the team as a whole. Jamie Stauffer is a crew chief that many of Australia’s top Superbike riders would love to have in their corner, and his company Doctor Mak Engines already supplies many ASBK front runners with engine building, dyno mapping and suspension tuning services.

“Damo and Jamie are also two of the most successful superbike riders to come out of this country in the past 20-years, and provide a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team. Highly experienced Brian Shields is also on board as our team mechanic. Brian has been a fixture in dirt track and road racing pit garages for several decades, firstly with his son Adam, then Jamie, and now Max and Archie benefitting from his skills, work ethic and strong attention to detail. I feel extremely privileged to be working with such a talented pair of riders, and our skilfull and experienced crew in 2020, and I can’t wait to get the season underway at Round One of ASBK at Phillip Island”.

The GTR MotoStars team will be put to the test when the 2020 ASBK season kicks off in under two weeks.

The GTR MotoStars Team is supported by Yamaha Australia, RS+C, DoctorMak, Bikebiz, Motul Oils, RK Chains, Pirelli Tyres, Racers Edge, KYT Helmets and Ricondi Leathers.

Follow the team via the MotoStars Facebook Page or the team’s dedicated Instagram Page.