Today it was confirmed that Anthony ‘AJ’ Roberts will officially stand down from full time racing in 2014, focusing on managerial duties with his factory-supported Active8 Yamaha team.

Roberts will nurture talented duo Josh Green and Tom McCormack as Yamaha’s official factory satellite team, alongside the CDR Yamaha outfit.

It’s been a long and successful career for Roberts, who has also successfully launched his Active8-backed Yamaha team in recent years with the same professional approach.

“I have had a great career racing but now it’s the right time to step aside and pass on that knowledge to my riders and give them some advice on how to further their racing,” Roberts said.

“I’m pumped with Josh and Tom returning for 2014 and excited about the changes we have in store for the team. It’s onward and upward for us and we will do our best to chase down as many race wins and championships as possible.”

Roberts first launched his own team with Honda support in 2010, before switching to Yamaha last year and continuing that association through 2013.

As a racer, Roberts’ biggest feat was winning three consecutive Australian Off-Road Championships Outright from 2005 through 2006 and 2007. Needless to say, it was a dominant run for the rider originally from the Northern Territory.

Roberts also has Safari class wins to his credit, a Kamfari Mud race victory on debut, plus desert race podiums including Hattah.

His international experience is also vast, racing both World Enduro rounds, American GNCC rounds and of course the International Six Days of Enduro for Australia.

Despite missing multiple rounds in 2013, Roberts was a solid third overall in E3 during the AORC series aboard an immaculate YZ250 two-stroke.

“My plan was to just enjoy the final rounds and grab some bike time while I can,” Roberts said. “Third in class is a bit of false result given that so many riders were out of the event and all I needed to do was just ride around, but it’s better to have a Yamaha on the podium than someone from another brand.”

No doubt Roberts has left a huge footprint on the national off-road scene in terms of race results, which is likely to continue now as team manager.

Green and McCormack will focus on the AORC and A4DE events in 2014, the Endurocross series, as well as the Finke and Hattah Desert Races aboard a fleet of YZFs. As always, we’ll be following the events every step of the way right here on MotoOnline.com.au.

Well done on an awesome career AJ, well played!