Yamaha Motor Australia has revealed that it intends to launch a control series for junior road racers in 2011, hoping to unearth Australia’s next Casey Stoner in a revolutionary development program.

The Japanese manufacturer has requested for expressions of interest in a single model race series featuring four-stroke Yamaha’s YZF-R125, the concept aimed at 13-15 year-olds with a playing field that could see riders pay a fee of $17,000 per rider for the season and have everything taken care for them, including transportation of the bikes.

If the series goes ahead, all bikes will be modified YZF-R125s developed along the same lines as the Italian R125 Cup series bikes – built, supported, run, transported and maintained by the Yamaha Racing Development (YRD) team.

According to the expression of interest sent out by YMA, riders are only required to supply their own transport, accommodation, evening meals and a mechanically-capable helper for the series.

Everything else required for racing including fuel and one set of Dunlop control tyres per round is to paid for by each rider at the start of the season, with the only extra cost being crash repairs if the rider is to have an incident during the season.

A sign on fee provides the rider with a minimum of a five round series (possibly eight rounds), with one full day of practice, one or two qualifying sessions and six races over three days per round. There may also be a pre-series test day included.

As noted previously, YRD will transport the bikes to and from events, pay entry fees, take care of garaging, provide a crew chief to oversee the helpers, a set-up/suspension technician, a tyre fitter/general helper to support the other staff and a trainer/rider co-ordinator to help the riders with racecraft and technique.

YRD will also provide catering at the circuit for breakfast, lunch and refreshments on race day.

To ensure a level playing field, YRD will guarantee total equality of machinery and tyres by asking riders to draw the keys to each machine before each event. The only adjustments to be made on race day will be gearing, suspension spring pre-load, ride height and tyre pressures.

Prizes will be provided for each age group commensurate with the level of expertise and achievement, with the ultimate prize potentially being a satellite supported ride on an FX600 or Superstock 600 YZF-R6 for the following season.

Public relations will also be managed by Yamaha and available to each rider, with Yamaha supplying both rider and helper with a set of pit wear required to be worn at events.

According to YMA, the race series is aimed at junior motocross, dirt track and short circuit riders who want to try road racing but can’t afford the huge current expense of buying, building, running and getting to and from road race events with a bike.

Riders and parents interested are being asked to contact YRD via email at [email protected] before the end of June 2010.

It’s uncertain where the series will be contested for the season, however the factory Yamaha Racing Team currently contests Formula Xtreme, with Yamaha stating that if the interest in the series isn’t clear by the cut off date then it won’t be going ahead.

Stay tuned to MotoOnline.com.au for a full road test of Yamaha’s learner-legal YZF-R125 in the coming weeks.