Yamaha Racing can lay claim to having the fastest man and woman on dirt in Australia as Aaron Tanti and Charli Cannon won the 2022 ProMX Championships after the final round of racing was completed at Coolum, last weekend.
Tanti, on board his CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team YZ450F, had a season to remember racking up six podiums from the eight rounds, highlighted by two round wins at Gilman and Maitland. His improved speed and consistency were there every round, and he had built up a comfortable 24-point lead heading into the final round meaning that he has room for error if things got intense at Coolum.
"The Tanti story is a remarkable one," begins CDR Yamaha boss, Craig Dack. "He had never won a national title as a junior or a professional, his best result as a pro was second in MX2 way back in 2018 and he had only ever podiumed in one race on a 450, yet he wins the 2022 championship in convincing fashion."
"It showed his fighting spirit, his will to never give up on his dream and that with some hard work, guidance and dedication, everything and anything is achievable.
"It's been huge year of growth for Aaron both on and off the track and at age 26, is only coming into his prime years now. He has become more confident in his abilities and matured off the track into a dedicated and professional athlete.
"When Luke went down at round two, we rallied the team around Aaron, gave him the support he needed and to his credit he rose to the occasion, didn't buckle under the pressure, and won another national motocross championship for CDR. It's a great coming of age and we congratulate him on an amazing motocross championship," Dack ends.
To view Tanti's season highlights: https://youtu.be/wPIMmb4cXjQ
Tanti now prepares for the supercross season where he will be a busy man, retaining his SX1 duties with CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team in Australia, but also taking on the SX2 (250cc) role with CDR International for the Global SX campaign.
Charli Cannon burst onto the national scene taking all before her in a complete domination of the Women's ProMX Championship. She won all six motos contested and was simply a cut above her rivals.
Not many were aware of the 16year old blonde-haired girl from the Sunshine Coast, but they soon were as she took it to the competition at round one in Wonthaggi and never looked back. 2022 was her first season in senior racing and shook up the established women in racing with her speed, fitness, and determination.
"Charli has been great to work with and deserves every success that comes her way," says Mike Ward of the Yamalube Yamaha Racing Team. "She works as hard as anyone on her fitness, her technique and her racing and it shows on the track as she improved every round. Charli's round six result with the guys in the MX2 class was sensational and it gave her that confidence to keep challenging herself to be a better rider.
"Off the track she has had a big year as she has had to learn to deal with the media attention of being a champion. I don't think there was a round where she didn't have to do an interview, or autograph session or some media commitment and she handled it well. Hopefully, she becomes the face of women's racing, not just here, but internationally as she would be a great role model for young girls and women everywhere," Ward said.
To view Cannon's season in review: https://youtu.be/PNIFk-ZnGcM
Cannon flies out this week to contest the final round of the WMXGP in Afyon Turkey. All eyes will be on her to see how she stacks up against the best in the world.
