Dean Wilson confirmed this week via an Instagram post that he is no longer part of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s plans and is now out of work. It’s yet another blow for the luckless former AMA champ. So what’s next for Deano?
The Glasgow-born pilot hasn’t had it so easy since winning the 2011 AMA Lucas Oil Pro Motocross 250 championship, with a catalogue injuries that has ultimately cost him a ride with the KTM factory team.
Roger De Coster showed faith in Wilson with a two-year deal but for the most part, it’s been two years of injury woes. He never got a real opportunity to show his full potential on a 450 SX-F but the 24-year-old Scot isn’t bitter, publicly thanking both De Coster and his mechanic via his Instagram account.
So what’s next for Wilson? Well as he’s pointed out himself he’s “jobless” at present.
There’s no shortage of talented 450 pro riders in the US at the moment, so putting that to one side what about coming back to Europe and the GPs? Although he was overlooked for this year’s Motocross of Nations, in 2015 Wilson finished sixth and eighth in the Open class, arguably outperforming countryman Shaun Simpson. And he’s shown since that he has the speed.
But would he want to come back? And just as importantly, which team could he walk into? It’s not that straight forward. Don’t get me wrong, it would be great to see Dean racing the GPs and possibly the British championship too but I can’t see it happening at the moment.
Then there’s his second home, Canada. It’s too easy to fall into the trap of saying he’d do really well there, although personally, I think he would, but it wouldn’t be easy and would he want to leave the US? I don’t think he would.
It’s astonishing that a 24-year-old US national champion finds himself without a team for 2017 but with his past injuries and no shortage of pro riders for 2017, teams will think twice before inking a deal with the popular Glaswegian.
He’s always tried to remain positive and engaged with his loyal fans on social media, who have helped him stay the course. Even now he isn’t wallowing in self-pity, “no sob story that’s the way it went and I can’t change it,” he said, referring to his two years of injuries.
Hopefully, he’ll stick it out and a ride will turn up for 2017. Stay positive Deano.
