Dave Thorpe’s Buildbase Honda MX Team is pleased to announce that their current MX1 rider Kristian Whatley has recently signed a new agreement that will see his services retained for the 2016 season.
Whatley’s current campaign has been interrupted and restricted by a shoulder injury that was compounded by a slight complication that has prevented him challenging for top honours in the 2015 Maxxis ACU MX1 British Motocross Championship. This is something both the team and Kristian will be looking to rectify next year.
Despite this unfortunate situation, Whatley has been able to show both his speed and potential in two other domestic championships and currently leads both the Pirelli Masters series and the MX Nationals with just one round remaining in each of these title races. If Kristian successfully wraps up these two British crowns they will add to the other domestic honours he achieved back in 2013.
Whilst unable to mount a full and proper challenge this season twenty-five-year-old Whatley remains the most obvious threat to bring current Maxxis ACU British Motocross Champion Shaun Simpson’s reign to an end if he can remain fit and rides to his potential in 2016. Now confirmed as the official MX1 + MX2 British Motocross Team – Honda UK for next season, Kristian is the first signature for the extended Buildbase Honda squad who will look to add other riders to their ranks for next year as they again focus their attentions on domestic glory through an extended programme of events and championships, which they will contest.
Speaking about his contract extension Whatley said. “I think it goes without saying that I am very happy to have the chance to race for Dave and the Buildbase Honda Team again next year, and I want to thank them for continuing to have faith in me despite the difficult season we have had together in 2015. Injuries are unfortunately part of what we do, but fingers crossed I can avoid them in 2016 and we can have a proper chance to show what we can do.”
“I have built up a strong relationship with my mechanic Ryan Thorpe this season, he has worked really hard to give me a bike that suits my style, and we are already working with the new 2016 CRF450R so we should have a great bike again for next year.”
Kristian closed with the following comment. “Hopefully we can wrap up the MX Nationals and the Pirelli Masters in the next few weeks and at least have something to show for all our hard efforts this year.”
Buildbase Honda MX Team Manager David Thorpe added his remarks. “We are very pleased to be able to retain Kristian for next season, he remains one of the strongest riders outside of the GP contenders and is perfectly placed to fight for the Maxxis ACU MX1 British Motocross Championship in 2016 along with the other series we will contest. As we know 2015 has not been the best for Kristian due to his injuries, but that is all part of motocross. We are confident that we can again give him a strong package to win races, and if luck is on our side next year, to seriously challenge for the main title.”
David ended by saying “In the coming weeks we will confirm our other riders for 2016 and our plans and intentions for next season once we have the other pieces of the jigsaw in place.”
