Australia’s Maddy Brown will contest the MXGP World Championship WMX series as part of the I-Fly JK Yamaha Racing Team for the 2017 season.

Following multiple seasons getting her feet wet in the series on a privateer program, the 22-year-old will receive a vital boost in support from the Yamaha-backed outfit.

“Last year I was doing it on my own,” said Brown. “Steven Clarke lent me his friends bike and it was pretty clapped out, but we had to make do and I was grateful to get the bike.

“They couldn’t make it to one of the rounds with the bike, so Dakota Alix, who rode for the JK Racing team, organised to have them transport my bike around. We got to know them a bit and now they want to have me onboard for this year, so I’ll have a new bike and some help from Yamaha with parts and transport so I can get to places like Indonesia.”

Following sub-par results during her 2016 campaign, Brown will enter the 2017 with a new mindset and an improved program thanks to Ross Beaton, older brother of current Motul MX Nationals MX2 champion, Jed Beaton.

“In 2015 I did three rounds and scored a third, I think last year I was expecting too much and everything just didn’t go together,” she explained. “I was pretty disappointed, so for this year I have a different mindset, some really good support and the team’s behind me.

“I’m also working with Ross Beaton on a great program, so hopefully this year I can put it together and be really consistent at each race, every round, and hopefully get the results I want.”

The Victorian will continue her relationship with the DPH Motorsport Yamaha team in Australia, as she plans to return home between rounds with substantial time between them.

“With the large gap between the rounds, so I’ll be returning home during the year,” she added. “I’ll remain part of the DPH Motorsport Yamaha team and I plan on coming back and forth to base myself from home, so that’s how I’ll be able to continue my training program with Ross.”

Brown will kick off her 2017 MXGP World Championship WMX campaign at the MXGP of Indonesia in Pangkal Pinang on 5 March.