Kel Carruthers , ex-rider turned manager / crew chief , pictured ( second from left ), with Eddie Lawson and the Giacomo Agostini run Marlboro Yamaha team
In New Zealand the Coleman family realised the potential of the 250cc twostroke twin cylinder six-speed Suzuki T20 and started sponsoring riders through its Suzuki dealerships . The Suzuki factory had sent out instructions in the form of ‘ Bulletin 50 .’ This showed mechanics how to port the cylinders of the 250cc twostroke twin and also provided the dimensions for racing exhausts . Soon a lot of Suzukis were on New Zealand tracks , developing the knowledge of a lot of young ( and not so young ) mechanics . They had to learn the intricate details of two-stroke tuning , and many got very good at it . In Australia , the arrival of the first limited production Yamaha racing machines , from the TA125 through to the 350cc TD2s , was greeted with enthusiasm . The early air-cooled machines had a few weaknesses , but these were soon sorted and the later incarnations swelled grids . Over time , a number of Australian and New Zealand riders , their skills sharpened with ultra-competitive domestic racing , made the jump to international competition . This was as much about adventure - the Big OE - as it was about seeking fame and fortune .
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