2014 Oceania Marine Technician Grand Prix

by Yamaha Outboard on 25 Nov 2014 Yamaha's 2014 Oceania Marine Technician Grand Prix has been run and won.

The Yamaha technician GP is a training and skills contest where the best technicians from all over Australia and New Zealand come to compete. Competitors are put through a series of challenges to test their knowledge and skill in a simulated workshop environment.

This year Brendan Irvine from Leon and Paul Savages Streaker Boats, Bayswater, Victoria excelled in this gruelling event, earning the title of best Yamaha Marine Technician, 2014.

Back for a third year and qualifying highest in his region, Brendan competed against another seven finalists from around Australia and New Zealand at Yamaha`s Marine Training Headquarters in Brisbane.

Utilising his past experience from previous GP events and the enhancement of his skills through Yamaha`s Technical Academy training, Brendan held off a very formidable runner up in Tony Powell from Telfer Marine, Rotorua, New Zealand.

Brendan`s excellent performance on the day and his ability to keep cool under pressure have been rewarded with a trip to Japan to visit Yamaha`s production facilities, a prize highly sought-after by these passionate group of Yamaha technicians.

'The Grand Prix is virtually 'race day' in Yamaha`s Technical Academy program, keeping skill levels for marine servicing in Yamaha dealerships throughout Australia and New Zealand at very high levels, by creating friendly competition and real recognition for marine Technician excellence. The personal development of Yamaha technicians in the market through this training and testing equates to excellence in after sales service for our Yamaha customers', said Martin Dwyer, National Training Manager.

Yamaha congratulates both Brendan and Tony for attaining such a high level of ability and technical knowledge. Yamaha is extremely proud to have such an excellent group of technicians in the field representing Yamaha’s products.