Yamaha Motor Australia press release:

Hundreds of hopefuls dreamed of spending $10,000 on Yamaha product following YMA’s prize winning incentive to celebrate Yamaha Day.

But the shopping spree could only become a reality for one lucky competition entrant, and it was 21-year-old Nicola Theile from Jindabyne who claimed the loot.

Nicola’s social media post, depicting her favourite Yamaha moment with the hashtag #yamaha64aus caught the eye of the judges who announced the winner at Yamaha’s recent 64th birthday celebration.

Nicola was able to choose any product from Yamaha’s extensive range, including marine or even something from the music division. But with a motorcycle-loving family and a dirt bike background, it took Nicola less than 30 seconds to decide she would be upgrading to a new off-road bike. The exact model proved to be a much tougher decision…

“My eleventh birthday present was a TT-R125, an overdue upgrade from my PW80. The TT-R has served me well over the past ten years, taking me on countless adventures through the Victorian High Country. I’ve long outgrown it but haven’t been able to afford an upgrade. Winning the $10,000 Yamaha Day prize is a dream come true,” explains the conservation and land management student from NSW’s Snowy Mountains.

“I’d love to explore places like the Flinders Rangers and Fraser Island and was looking at both the WR250F and the WR250R. Whichever I choose I’ll be the first person in my family to own a brand-new bike!” she adds.

To assist Nicola with her decision, YMA set up a ride day, providing an opportunity to test the WR250R and WR250F back to back in their natural habitat. A tour of YMA head office at Wetherill Park followed.

Following a full day of dirt action aboard Yamaha’s go-anywhere WR250R adventure bike and championship-winning WR250F enduro machine, Nicola’s decision became tougher, not easier.

“The whole experience has been wonderful. Winning the prize was amazing, but the extra effort the team from Yamaha has put in to ensuring I make the correct decision, topped off with a tour of Yamaha, made it extra special.”

“The bikes are like chalk and cheese in performance but hit their design brief perfectly. The WR250R is so easy to ride and could take me through the Victorian Highlands or around the country with ease, but the WR250F has so much power and performance, it’s addictive,” she explains, weighing up her options. Following a sleepless night of decision making, Nicola departed YMA the following morning with a shiny new WR250F.

“The WR250F won my heart in the end – even if it’s a bit more expensive than the $10,000 I had to spend. The WR250R is the ultimate adventure bike for me, but the performance of the WR250F is intoxicating; it’s just an absolute weapon. The adrenalin kick you get every time you twist the throttle is unreal.”

Nicola already has a diary full of rides booked in for her the WR250F. We wish Nicola all the best for the adventures ahead and congratulate her on being a worthy winner.