Reigning MX2 World Champion Tim Gajser will progress to the MXGP class of the FIM Motocross World Championship for the 2016 season, remaining with his title-winning Honda Gariboldi Racing team.

The 19-year-old Slovenian won his and the team’s first MX2 crown in 2015, but will climb aboard a factory Honda CRF450RW next season. The news came at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy, today.

“I’m so excited to move up to MXGP next season,” Gajser said. “This year was a dream; it was everything we’ve ever wanted to achieve and I’m so happy to have made that mark in history for myself, Slovenia, the team and for Honda. It feels amazing.

“It was the plan already, when we are MX2 champion we go forward to the next class, but we didn’t expect to win the title this year, so I’m a little surprised. Big thanks to Honda and HRC for their faith in me, and for providing me with such great support in MX2 this year and for giving me a full factory bike and support in MXGP next year.

“I’m really looking forward to stepping up and riding the CRF450RW. I really like the bike, and actually I like the 450 even more than the 250. I’m tall, so the 450 is more powerful and easier to ride for my size.

“I always train with the Honda 450 at home and this season was just riding the 250 at the races, so actually it was a little tricky changing bikes like that. Now I have a full factory 450, but apart from more power it’s not a new bike for me. I’ve already started testing the 450 for next season and I really love it.

“It’s a new beginning, a new class, and something new for us all, so for the first season there is no pressure and I will just try to do the best possible. I want to just take some experience from this first year – the other riders around me are more experienced in MXGP, so I will just try to learn as much from the year as possible. In my rookie season I will try for some podiums, but without putting myself under any pressure.

“To be here at EICMA alongside people like Gautier, Bobby, the MotoGP riders and all of HRC’s factory riders is an amazing feeling. I can’t tell you how proud I feel to be a part of this family and how motivated I am to keep things going in this good direction next year.”

Gajser is very much at home on the CRF450RW as he has long favoured the bigger capacity machine for his training program. For the last two years he has competed in the Motocross of Nations in the Open class on the CRF450RW and has already been testing his bike for next year.

With a long-term contract with Honda Racing Corporation until at least 2020, Gajser has gone from rising star in 2014 to the brightest prospect in the world championship. Cementing a remarkable world championship crown this year in spectacular fashion at the last round, he has the full backing of the team, Honda and Honda Racing Corporation.