Yamaha Motor Europe has confirmed that Arnaud Tonus will enter his third year with the Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP Team where he will contest the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship onboard a YZ450F.
Having missed the entire 2018 MXGP season due to a shoulder injury he sustained at the start of the year, Tonus is excited to shift his focus to 2019 where he hopes to redeem himself with a top-five result in the 2019 FIM MXGP World Championship.
The 27-year-old injured both shoulders in two different incidents in the off-season and underwent a double shoulder reconstruction earlier this year. He has not been able to ride for more than six months, but was recently given the green light by his surgeon to start training again, and has already been out on the bike.
The Swiss rider said that he feels good onboard his YZ450F and is excited to return back to his best as he rebuilds his strength and confidence. Remaining with the Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP Team will see the super talent remain under the same structure that saw him achieve a podium finish at the MXGP of Trentino in 2017, a Qualifying Race win in Russia and an MXGP race win at his home Grand Prix in Switzerland.
Whether or not Tonus will return to racing this season is yet to be decided.
“It’s amazing for me because I have formed such a great relationship with Louis and the team at Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP, and even better is that the YZ450F, the material and all of the equipment we use there is top level,” said Tonus. “I am really happy with the way the team works and the atmosphere there, I really feel like these guys are my family, so I am really excited to stay with them for another year, and to completely go for it.”
