Max Stauffer, the talented rider of the Yamaha Racing Team, is making waves in the Australian Superbike Championship despite facing challenges this season.
Transition to Yamaha Racing Team
At just 21 years old, Max Stauffer joined the Yamaha Racing Team (YRT) late last year as the factory replacement for the long-serving rider Cru Halliday. He now partners with three-time champion Mike Jones in the competitive Australian Superbike Championship. Although both Stauffer and the team have put in strong efforts, he has yet to replicate the impressive speed he showcased last season with Penrite Yamaha.
Current Standing in the Championship
Despite the hurdles, Stauffer’s consistent performances have him currently positioned seventh in the championship standings, accumulating 147 points. His best finish during the opening five rounds of the 2025 season was at Phillip Island in February, where he secured fourth place with finishes of 6th, 7th, and 7th. Following that, he placed 10th overall at Sydney Motorsport Park, sixth at Queensland Raceway, ninth at Morgan Park, and seventh in the latest outing at Queensland Raceway, which coincided with the Supercars event as part of the Ipswich Super440.
Team Support and Future Plans
“Max has represented Yamaha well during his time with us,” expressed YRT team manager John Redding. “We’re thankful for the professionalism and commitment he’s shown, and we part on positive terms. We believe he has a bright career ahead and wish him every success.” As of now, Yamaha Racing Team has not confirmed whether another rider will join Jones, who currently holds second place in the championship, trailing Josh Waters by 54 points.
Stauffer, with 59 race starts in the Australian Superbike Championship, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity provided by YRT. “I want to thank John Redding and Kev Marshall for the opportunity they’ve given me this season,” Stauffer shared with Speedcafe.com. “The team worked incredibly hard to make me feel at home on the bike, but unfortunately, it just didn’t come together. There are no hard feelings — we’re simply heading in different directions.”
Looking Ahead
Looking forward, Stauffer plans to complete the remaining three rounds of this year’s Australian Superbike Championship aboard a Yamaha YZF-R1, with the support of his father, former two-time Australian Superbike champion Jamie Stauffer. “At this point, the plan is to still be lining up on the grid for the rest of 2025,” the young rider stated. “I guess we just have to wait to see what happens and see what opportunities come up. I’m open to a lot of things right now. Right now, I’m hopeful that I’ll be on the grid for the rest of the season.”
Stauffer also expressed his interest in racing internationally. “MotoAmerica is somewhere where I would really like to go and race, even the British Superbike Championship as well,” he noted. “I’m definitely keen on racing overseas if the right opportunity came up.”