After
months of arduous tests and interviews, the top 10 Yamaha technicians from
across Canada arrived at
Yamaha Motor Canada Ltd. headquarters in Toronto
for the 2012 Technician Grand Prix. Competitors were put through ten
skill-testing labs that included troubleshooting mechanical issues, precision
measurement and customer service interviews.
By the end
of the competition, Darrin Ostapowich of Schultz Motorsports in Kamloops, BC,
was awarded the title of Tech GP Champion. Watch the highlights here.
The Tech
GP is a contest that pits the very best technicians from countries the world
over to promote Yamaha's worldwide service network. So, the journey doesn't end
here for Ostapowich. In October, he will fly to Japan
to represent Canada
in the Yamaha Motor Technician World Championships. To prepare for the World
Finals, Ostapowich said, "The studying won't stop until October. I'll try to
replicate the challenges we had here in Toronto
while re-discovering the old fundamentals, making sure they're good and strong
and coming forth to the new technologies we now see."
For
Canadian dealers and their technicians, Tech GP is a very prestigious incentive
rewarding their on-going training (Yamaha
Technical Academy)
as well as a level of excellence and commitment.
Finishing
in second place was Nick King from Vernon Motorsports Ltd. in Vernon, BC.
Rounding out the top three was Mathieu Talbot from R.P.M. Rive Sud in Lévis,
Québec.
Canadian Technician GP
Finalists
|
Technician Name
|
Dealer Name
|
City
|
Province
|
Fabien Demers
|
Harricana Adventures
|
Amos
|
QC
|
Alain Piuze
|
S.M. Sport Inc.
|
Loretteville
|
QC
|
Mathieu Talbot
|
R.P.M. Rive Sud
|
Lévis
|
QC
|
Bruce Hollands
|
Haliburton Outdoor
Equipment Ltd.
|
Haliburton
|
ON
|
Quang Le
|
Proline Motorsports
& Marine Inc.
|
Saskatoon
|
SK
|
Gregory Zeniuk
|
Riverside
Yamaha/Suzuki
|
St.
Albert
|
AB
|
James Bettenson
|
Scanalta Power Sales
Ltd.
|
Hines Creek
|
AB
|
Brett Hart
|
Cycle Work Foothills
Ltd.
|
Okotoks
|