Image: Supplied.

Shop Yamaha’s Josh Green has made the transition to the new generation YZ450F ahead of the 2023 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) in a bid to defend his E2 class title and challenge for outright honours.

As the opening round approaches this weekend, the reigning E2 champion is confident that the 2023 model YZ450F in enduro-spec is a platform that will help him achieve added success in the outright standings.

“The new bike is really good,” Green told MotoOnline. “It almost feels like cheating with how good it is… It makes me feel like I was dragging my previous bikes around the track, where I feel like I’m holding this new model back – it’s like it wants to go faster than I can actually ride it. It’s really cool!

“We got the win in E2 last year, so the goal is obviously to back that up and win it again, as well as get the outright win, I think this new YZ450F is the tool we need to get us there. So basically, the goal is to get through the year clean and do the best I can and I think we’ll come out on top.”

Green’s quest for another AORC E2 title commences this weekend, 24-25 March in Mendooran, NSW, with rounds one and two of the 2023 series. It was his teammate Kyron Bacon who won the E1 title last season and was top-scorer outright for the season.