Wilson to defend SX2 crown as Evans steps up to the premier class.
Yamalube Yamaha Racing has revealed it will retain reigning SX2 champion Jay Wilson and Richie Evans for the 2019 Pirelli MX Nationals and Australian Supercross Championship, with Evans set to step up to the premier class.
In a rebuilding year that saw him earn the quarter-litre class championship in supercross, Wilson is excited to be remaining with the Queensland-based outfit for 2019 as he endeavours to add another title to his existing motocross and supercross crowns.
“2018 was a great season for me and more importantly, I have found a good balance in my life between racing, coaching and my family life,” Wilson commented.” I love all aspects of my life and the beauty of racing with the Yamalube Yamaha team is that I don’t have to worry about things as they have everything sorted and make racing fun.
“To win the supercross championship was a goal of mine and it was an emotional night all round but that’s in the past now and we have two championships to focus on this year and obviously the goal is to win them both. MX2 is always a tough class and there are plenty of great riders again this year but I’m setting my goals high, putting in the work and looking for a better season in 2019.
“The other advantage I have is that we already have logged plenty of time on the 2019 YZ250F and have a set-up we know will be competitive. I’m sure the team will continue to develop the bike and I feel confident we will be in a good place come round one.”
Evans will pilot the title-winning Yamaha YZ450F next season, which he believes will benefit his riding style and promote promising results in the highly-competitive division.
“When the team first approached me about racing a 450 in 2019, I wasn’t sure what to make of it as I feel there was still some results I could achieve on the 250 in MX2 but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do it and now I’m 100% on board.
“It’s also good to be back with the same team and sponsors again for 2019,” said Evans. “We all get along well, and the guys work hard to its good to go racing knowing everything has been done and my job is simply to ride fast.
“In the MX2 class, most of the riders run a high revving, let it all hang out style which really isn’t the way I ride and the more powerful motor of the 450 suits where I ride the bike in the power range. It’s also a chance to challenge myself against the best riders in Australia.
“I just need to look at what my brother Mitch was able to do in the MX1 class with some hard work. I saw what he achieved at close range and although he has set the family bar high, I hope to keep the Evans name up there in the MX1 class.”
Source: MotoOnline.com.au