Australia’s Jay Wilson will now direct his focus towards his MX2 World Championship debut with the i-Fly JK Yamaha Racing Team after wrapping up the Arenacross UK series in London on Saturday night.

Wilson, 22, will carry newfound international experience into the MXGP season after logging an 11th place overall championship finish in his rookie Arenacross UK season.

“I’m happy to have finished the Arenacross safe and healthy,” Wilson told MotoOnline.com.au. “It’s been a really fun series to be a part of and I feel that I learnt a lot in a short period of time racing it.

“The weekend didn’t end exactly how I was planning it to but with the way the track was and the season I have ahead of myself I wasn’t in the position to take the risk I would have normally liked to, so to finish off with a seventh and third I was still pretty happy.”

His dream now becoming a reality in signing a full-time world championship deal, the 2015 Australian MX2 champion will enter the season-opener with ample time aboard his grand prix-spec i-Fly JK Yamaha Racing Team YZ250F.

“We fly out to Qatar tonight, which is going to be awesome,” said Wilson. “Last week I spent a fair bit of time in Italy riding and I got to have another ride on my GP bike, which I’m really happy with. It was quite cool to see everything getting packed into the crates – it made everything feel a lot more real.”

Welcoming the challenge with open arms, the Queenslander will continue to juggle a full schedule of racing and travel as he prepares for more than one first-time experience: “We’ve been juggling a lot the past month with getting ready for Qatar and still racing Arenacross, especially with the deal being put together so quickly. It’s going to be good to now just switch my focus to GPs and settle in over here.

“The first four rounds are going to be the toughest with the different time zones and travelling most weeks, plus I’ll be back in Australia in between rounds for Misty to have the baby in March. I’m looking forward to the challenge, this is what I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m determined to make the most of the opportunity.”

Wilson will make his MX2 World Championship debut this weekend, 25 February, under lights at the Losail Circuit in Qatar alongside fellow Australian MX2 class rookies Hunter Lawrence and Caleb Ward.