Australian Jay Wilson has inked a deal with i-Fly JK Yamaha Racing for MX2, Dirt Bike Rider can reveal.
The 2015 Australian and New Zealand MX2 champion has been competing in the Arenacross Tour for i-Fly JK Yamaha in recent weeks, and now the Aussie will represent the team in the MX2 category for the 2017 race season.
The team will go full tilt in MX2, with a commitment to race the entire MXGP world championship and also take on the eight rounds of the Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship.
Wilson will fulfil a lifelong ambition when the gate drops in Qatar on February 25 in the first of the 19 round series. “I can’t really believe that I’m finally going to be racing the MXGPs with a manufacturer that I’ve had so much success with in the past,” said a delighted Wilson. “I’ve definitely been pinching myself the last few days that’s for sure.”
The 22-year-old knows this is a big chance and he plans to make the most of it. “I’m really grateful that I’ve been given this opportunity,” he said. “I can’t wait to see what myself and the i-Fly JK Yamaha team can achieve together this year.”
Riccardo Boschi, i-Fly JK Yamaha’s team owner zeroed in on Wilson after impressing during the AX series and is certainly pleased with the new signing. “It’s been a busy couple of weeks putting the deal together with Jay at the last minute, but we believe he is a perfect fit for our team, and we are looking forward to the season,” he said.
“This will be my 17th year at the MXGPs and we enjoy being able to give these opportunities to young talented riders like Jay. I’m sure we will have a long and exciting season together.”
When Jay first arrived in the UK for the Arenacross Tour the deal was to race the AX tour and then jet back to Australia, as Jay explains: “When I arrived in the UK the plan was just to do Arenacross and then to come home. The team spoke to me after the first couple of weeks of being here about racing MX2 and then everything fell into place really quickly.
“I’ve been out testing with the team at Montecatini in Italy where they’re based this week, and from here forward it’s really going to be about putting in a lot of hard work every day until round one in Qatar.
i-Fly JK Yamaha’s UK-based team manager Dickie Dye commented: “We are very fortunate to have Jay as part of the team for the 2017 race season.
“It was a twist of fate which created this situation, and we are all determined to make the most of it. While Jay continues to focus on Arenacross for the team in the next few weeks, he will also be busy getting race-ready for the first MX2GP in Qatar.”
Wilson will get his first taste of UK outdoor racing for the team at the Hawkstone International MX on February 5.
