North Queenslander Mitch Evans will join Wilson Todd at GYTR Yamaha for the 2015 season, stepping up to the Under 19s development category following a decorated junior career.

Evans, 16, has switched from KTM to the factory-supported Yamaha MXD program for his debut in the 2015 MX Nationals, replacing Serco Yamaha-bound standout Jed Beaton.

Evans comes to the team after destroying the opposition in the 2014 Australian Junior Motocross Championships, taking home the 15 Years 125 and 15 years 250cc crowns.

“I was pretty excited when the team contacted me and asked if I would be interested in racing with them,” Evans said. “The riders who have come through this team have also done well and the Yamaha system with GYTR, Serco and CDR Yamaha offer a path to the top of Australian motocross, so it’s too good to resist.

“This is my first year and there will be so many things to learn and experience. Riding and racing new tracks, racing with different riders, longer races on rougher tracks and just being surrounded by a new group of people has me excited about 2015. Round one can’t come soon enough for me.”

Wilson Todd was thrust into Yamaha’s MXD race program at the 11th hour in 2014 after an injury to Joel Dinsdale, eventually finishing fourth overall in the standings with the overall victory at Gladstone.

“I’m really looking forward to 2015 as I felt I was just finding my feet as the end of the 2014 series,” Todd explained. “It’s different to racing juniors in so many ways and by the halfway point of the season I was able to get it under control and post some good results.

“It’s awesome that I’m back with the GYTR Yamaha team. We have a bunch of great people here and the team sponsors really look after us. The guys have been working hard to make some improvements and I will be ready to go when the season starts.”

Riders who have progressed through this team and gone onto bigger and better things include, Dean Ferris, Luke Styke, Luke Arbon, Jay Wilson and most recently, Beaton with his step up to Serco Yamaha.