Gall and Carruthers honoured

Two legendary Yamaha riders have been inducted into the inaugural Australian Motorstport Hall of Fame. In front of a packed Melbourne Exhibition Centre, lifelong Yamaha ambassador and four times Mister Motocross Stephen Gall joined Yamaha Grand Prix rider and successful team manager Kel Carruthers in receiving the tribute. “To be standing beside this group of legends is one of the major highlights of my sporting life,” says Gall who has spent over 40 years with the tuning fork brand since first competing on a YZ250 in 1974. 250cc World Champion Carruthers, who spent most of his career with Yamaha as both a GP rider and team manager – and mentor of three times world champion Kenny Roberts – joined Gall and a number of fellow two and four-wheel motorsport legends at the induction. Formula 1 champions Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones were inducted alongside touring car luminaries Peter Brock, Dick Johnson, Allan Moffat and Frank Matich. A number of other motorcyclists were honoured including world champions Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan, Casey Stoner and Troy Bayliss. Grand prix winner and talented car racer Gregg Hansford was also honoured. YMA Director and General Manager Steven Cotterell commented: “YMA would like to congratulate all inductees and it is particularly pleasing to see our good friends Stephen Gall and Kel Carruthers honoured. Both are true legends who are synonymous with our brand. Their passion for the tuning forks extend beyond the products we manufacture, because such long term support indicates a commitment to our organisation and the people who work here. They really are part of our family and it has been a pleasure to share in their success.”