Ben Watson Strengthens Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 in 2018

Courtesy of Youthstream

Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to strengthen Kemea Yamaha Official MX2‘s line-up with the addition of the 2017 British MX2 Champion Ben Watson.

The team will place a Yamaha YZ250F in the capable hands of the 20-year-old Brit where he and his teammates, 22-year-old Russian talent Vsevolod Brylyakov and Belgium’s teenage sensation, 17-year-old Jago Geerts, will hotly contest the highly competitive 2018 FIM MX2 World Championship.

Ben Watson has been on Yamaha’s radar for many years having won multiple national championships in the youth ranks before making the leap into the European EMX250 class in 2014, where he proved his worth by finishing inside the top-three in four races, two of which, he won.

After finishing fifth place in the 2014 EMX250 Championship, Watson entered his rookie season in the 2015 FIM MX2 World Championship where he finished 21st despite missing a number of rounds. Having learnt and developed from his first term in MX2, the promising young Brit lined up competed in three rounds of the 2016 MX2 World Championship before a leg injury at the MXGP of Argentina put him out for the remainder of the year. Fully recovered in 2017, the teenager completed his second season in MX2 where he finished inside the top-ten in eight races and was fifteenth place in the final classification.


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The entire Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 team are all set to begin their preparations for the 2018 FIM MX2 World Championship season. The new combination of Watson, Brylyakov, Geerts and the potent YZ250F is an exciting prospect. All of the riders will be based in Belgium, less than 45 minutes from the teams’ base in Genk. They will be trained and mentored by former world champion Jacky Vimond with added support from the team manager and legend in his own right, Marnicq Bervoets.

Ben Watson, Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Rider: “I am ecstatic to have received this opportunity. I have worked my whole life to get to the top of racing and to finally feel confident with the team and support that I am getting, it’s really exciting for me. It’s even more exciting to have a fresh start, and to ride a new bike and be around new people. I have heard so many people talk about how awesome Yamaha’s are, and now I finally get to experience it. We are ready for the new chapter.”

Erik Eggens, Yamaha Motor Europe MX Racing Manager: “This is a very exciting agreement. We have been following Ben for many years, right from when he was young and excelling in the youth championships. He has been on the radar for some time and I feel that we can give him the support and stability he needs to achieve everything he is capable of achieving. We look forward to seeing Ben progress and succeed on Yamaha.”

Hans Corvers, Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Team Owner: “We are happy to sign Ben. I have been watching him for many years, but really closely for the last 12 months. I have seen that he has some good qualities. He has the speed, he gets good starts but for whatever reason, up until now, something has been missing. I believe that we, the bLU cRU and Yamaha can offer him what he has been missing and this is something I look forward to seeing.”

 

Copyright: Photo: Yamaha Racing

Author:

Yamaha Racing

 

Limited Edition Book : Endurance 2012 & Trial 2012

Courtesy of FIM NEWS

Trial 2012 Buy now! This is the only official FIM Trial book and is packed with 144 pages of action and atmosphere from the various 2012 FIM Trial World Championships – X-Trial / Trial – men’s and women’s. Measuring a mighty 320 x 240mm this oversized A4 – glossy full colour book is a must for all Trial fans.       Endurance 2012 Buy now! This 176 page book contains a detailed and illustrated account of all the races and highlights of the 2012 FIM Endurance World Championship season. It also features all the teams who created the action. Endurance 2012 is a limited edition.

Downhill Mountain Bike Champion Danny Hart Competing at Hawk International

10th February 2013 http://www.hawkstonemx.co.uk    Release from www.suzukipress.co.uk     Danny Hart is a World Downhill Mountain Bike Champion and enjoys anything on two-wheels. He rides for the Giant Factory race team, but in his spare time he practices and races his RM-Z250. Yet he’s never raced in anything as big as the Hawkstone International. That, however, is about to change.   Away from his successful downhill mountain bike career, Danny Hart is no stranger to racing motocross, after he started riding at five years old. He regularly gets competitive on his RM-Z250, but never before at a meeting as big or prestigious at the Hawkstone International. But as he continues to prepare himself for the 2013 mountain biking season, one of the, if not the, biggest motocross meetings on the calendar is firmly set as part of his plans.   “I ride motocross all winter,” Danny explains. “It’s all good preparation and helps me get ready for the mountain biking season. But I never really have an aim at the end of it. I just sort of stop. So I thought that if I worked really hard and got myself sharp and fit, it would be good to compete at the International.   “It’s quite early in the year, so it gives me plenty of time afterwards to get back on my mountain bike regularly before the first round of the season. But I really wanted to ride at the Hawkstone International anyway, as it’s such a big race on the calendar here in the UK, and I remember watching my dad racing there when I was younger, and always thought it would be a good thing to do one day. Then that would see me start to wind down on the motocross front as the season gets underway.”   He’s under no illusions as to how competitive the field will be, and knows the event attracts some of the biggest names in the sport. A lot of preparation has been undertaken to be ready for the race, and while he’s not being overly ambitious with his targets, he’s certainly not there to make up the numbers.   “My aim is to qualify for the main MX2 race. This race attracts some of the best riders in the world, and I want to race against them. If I don’t manage to qualify for the main race, then I’d still get to ride and compete in the support race, but I don’t want to do that. I’ve spent a lot of time on the bike recently and my speed has been good, so I’m going there to make the main MX2 race.   “I’ve been entering as many races as I can over the winter, although with the weather being so bad a lot of them were cancelled, so I perhaps haven’t done as many as I’d have liked. But I’ve gone pretty well in them, with a few wins in the 250 classes.”   As well as being a keen motocrosser, riding his RM-Z250 is also good training for when the downhill mountain biking season kicks off.   “Because of my injury during the season last year I was more unfit than I had been in the past, so I had to start getting fit from the off. I spent a lot of time just riding my bike quite a lot at first. But then a couple of months ago I started to really train seriously for the season and started riding the RM-Z two to three days a week. I used FatCat a lot, but also spent a bit of time at Doncaster Moto Parc near Finningley. That has got me much fitter and helped me lose a bit of weight, and I’m feeling much better for it. So we should be in good shape for Hawkstone, and in the best shape possible for the mountain biking season.   “I’ll also have a 2013 RM-Z250 for the races, too, which I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on. The 2012 model is great, but I’m looking forward to the new one with the new, second generation Showa SFF front forks, the new gearbox and new engine internals too. Should make me even more competitive!”   The Hawkstone International takes place on Sunday 10 February, 2013. The Heads and All Threads Suzuki team of Graeme Irwin, Luke Burton and Jordan McClelland will also be competing as they prepare for the 2013 British Motocross Championship and the Red Bull Pro Nationals series.   Hawkstone are actively looking for more sponsors of the 2013 event to add to their current loyal supporters. Sponsorship prices start from as little as £250 – for more details or the sponsorship package please contact me on carly.rathmell@btinternet.com or carlyrathmell@yahoo.co.uk.   It is once again scheduled to appear on MotorsTV which includes a preview programme. Also it will be extensively covered by the specialist motorcycle press before and after the event which gives a potential sponsor a prime chance to promote their brand.   For entry details please contact Gary Ford on ford542@btinternet.com or call 07966 367456 – entry forms are available now.     Trade stand enquiries can be made with info@rhlactivities.com or by calling 01873 840640.   Press enquiries to carly.rathmell@btinternet.com – these need to be with me no later than the 25th January.   Tickets are only available to buy on the gate on the day, £25 each which includes a free race programme. Under 14’s are free.   Camping will be £20 per pitch – motorhome/tent/caravan.   Parking on site is also free.   For more information see –   http://www.hawkstonemx.co.uk/LatestInternationalNews.aspx    The 2012 Hawkstone International Motocross is supported by   Hawk Plant Hire – www.hawk-group.co.uk    Doodson Motorsport – www.doodsonbg.com    RJS Builders – www.rjsbuildersltd.co.uk    Salop Leisure – www.salopleisure.co.uk    ISO2 – www.iso2nutrition.co.uk    Cradley Kawasaki – www.cradleykawasaki.co.uk    Media Partners   TMX & DBR   MX VICE   For Directions to Hawkstone Motocross circuit click here: –   http://www.hawkstonemx.co.uk/Travel.aspx    Riders as of 07.01.13   MX 1     No Name Machine       10 Ryan Staveley Honda 20 Ross Keyworth Revo Talon Kawasaki 21 Gautier Paulin Kawasaki Racing Team 22 Kevin Strijbos Rockstar Suzuki World MX1 24 Jilani Cambre JDS Racing Team KTM 25 Clement Desalle Rockstar Suzuki World MX1 31 Alex Snow Oakleaf Kawasaki 34 Jamie Collins TVR Racing KTM 38 Jake Gowan D3 KTM 40 Luke Burton Heads & All Threads Suzuki 42 Nathan Parker Revo Talon Kawasaki 60 Brad Anderson Maxxis Kawasaki by LPE 68 Shane Carless Oakleaf Kawasaki 74 Patrick Major MJW Kawasaki 89 Jeremy Van Horebeek Kawasaki Racing Team 90 Aaron Lowe B+C/Michelin/Powerenhancer/Motul Suzuki 100 Tommy Searle CLS Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki 102 Jake Boyes Wulf/Grid MX/Wearside Rewinds Honda 111 Greg Fisher Jack Horseman Kawasaki 113 Michael Mahon VMX KTM 125 Jamie Law Dyer & Butler KTM 160 Scott Elderfield CMP Racewear/Goldentyre Kawasaki 176 Jamie Ellis RSS/Spiral Graphics/RFX KTM 191 Scott Ardren NC Groundworks Kawasaki 271 Tom Kelly Malin KTM Racing 393 Jarad Goodwin Suzuki 701 Dorren Coutts Maxxis Kawasaki by LPE 871 Connor Walkley Maxxis Kawasaki by LPE   MX 2     No Name Machine       5 Graeme Irwin Heads & All Threads Suzuki 7 Arnaud Tonus CLS Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki 14 Charlie Hamlet Feehily/Morris/Fox/RFX Suzuki 24 Liam Garland Dyer & Butler KTM 25 Glenn Coldenhoff Standing Construct KTM 33 Daniel Brough Heatex Racing Kawasaki 35 Pascal Rauchenecker Standing Construct KTM 55 Mike Kras Team Beursfoon Suzuki 63 Ceriel Klein Kromhof HFS Logistics MX Team KTM 69 Aidan Wigger Underdog Racing Kawasaki 73 Luke Norris Oct X MNE Kawasaki 77 Alessandro Lupino CLS Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki 84 Jeffrey Herlings Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 95 Dan Thornhill Revo Talon Kawasaki 99 Nathan Watson   110 Adam Darbyshire Underdog Racing Honda 116 David Blackburn Blackburn Motorbodies Honda 124 Glenn Fletcher CM Engineering/Regent MX/ JWR Honda 171 Zac Stealey V Customs Kawasaki 176 Aaron Pipon Martin Racing KTM 272 Neville Bradshaw Putoline Honda 303 Jake Millward Oakleaf Kawasaki 311 Jack Kelly Malin KTM Racing 711 James Cottrell Putoline Honda 771 Damon Graulus Standing Construct KTM 811 Adam Sterry STR KTM 911 Jordi Tixier Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 991 Ben Watson   200 James Dunn HM Plant KTM UK 44 Elliott Banks-Browne HM Plant KTM UK         Facebook – www.facebook.com/HawkstoneInternational    Twitter – HIMX2013                   Picture below by http://www.JacobGibbins.co.uk

Carly Rathmell Freelance Sports PR www.carlyrathmell.com

2013 Challenge meeting moves to Sweden

Courtesy of FIM NEWS

 

The 2013 Challenge round for the FIM Ice Speedway Gladiators World Championship will now take place in Norrkoping, Sweden on Saturday 19th January.

Originally it was to have been held on this date at the Austrian track in St.Johann but unseasonal rain and warm temperatures have prevented the organising club from preparing a suitable track and the decision was taken regretfully to cancel the meeting.

Swedish officials have moved rapidly in securing the use of the Norrkoping track where it is hoped that a typically cold Scandinavian winter will provide good racing conditions.

The Challenge replaces the Qualifying rounds held in previous years and will determine the riders to complete the field for the Final Series of the World Championship. The meeting is raced over 20 heats followed by two semi-finals a ‘last chance’ race and a Final.

The top 7 placed riders in from this Challenge meeting will join the 7 already seeded to the Finals as a result of their position in last year’s championship. Along with 1 permanent and 1 local Wild Card they will make up the field for the 2013 Finals Series which begins in Russia next month.

Details and riding numbers for this meeting will be advised here shortly.

KTM's Jonny Walker finishes 2nd in The Tough One

Courtesy of KTM

 

KTM factory rider Jonny Walker, still battling with the after effects of glandular fever on Saturday finished second to Graham Jarvis in the Tough One at the notorious Nantmawr Quarry (UK) on a day that started with blizzard conditions with wind and snow.

Walker takes second in The Tough One Extreme

 

Walker, who was signed in 2012 as a full KTM factory rider did not get away well and had to fight back into contention from about eighth in the opening lap. He then went on to slip past all the riders in front of him and even closed down and overtook Jarvis. But then a spill on the rugged track, torn up by a trials race earlier in the day and had to make a pit stop to exchange muddy gloves and goggles. After the first of the three-hour race he had again hunted down Jarvis and was within 20 seconds of the wily veteran racer before he hit a psychological wall and could not keep up the pace. Jarvis was then able to extend his lead but Jonny managed to hang on for a very creditably second place at the checkered flag. Gag-Gas rider Danny McCanny of the Isle of Man finished in third place.

Muddy conditions make hard day’s ride for Walker

 

Jonny Walker: “The race was tough going. The track was cut up form the race before and there were lots of rocks and tree stumps. I wasn’t able to beat Graham today but I have him in my sights for the next race.” Jonny will next compete in the first round of the British Extreme Enduro Championships in two weeks time.

Results: The Tough One
1, Graham Jarvis, UK, Husaberg 3 hours 5 minutes.02
2, Jonny Walker, UK, KTM, 3:13.56
3, Danny McCanny, UK, Gas-Gas
4, Paul Bolton, UK KTM
5, Alfredo Gomez, Husaberg

 

 

 

Pit stop for Walker

Toyota Tailgate Talk – Anaheim

Courtesy of Supercross LIVE