Source: Supplied.

Raceline Pirelli KTM has revealed Mitch Evans will switch to the premier MX1 class for the entire 2018 season in an announcement made public at KTM Newcastle this morning.

Evans, who finished third in the MX2 class of this year’s MX Nationals and was strong in supercross prior to sustaining season-ending injuries at the AUS-X Open, will ride a 450 SX-F next year.

The 19-year-old won the SXD championship in 2015 and then went on to capture the MXD crown outdoors in 2016 with Yamalube Yamaha Racing, before spending a single season in MX2 and SX2 with Serco Yamaha. He also represented Team Australia at the Motocross of Nations (MXoN) last year.

Evans’ arrival in the 450 ranks spells a turn of direction for the Raceline organisation, which featured as KTM’s factory 250 class team this season. While Evans is to ride MX1, Jayden Rykers has been re-signed for a second term to campaign a 250 SX-F in MX2.

Today’s announcement also confirms the departure of former national MX2 champion Jay Wilson, however his new deal is yet to be announced. Wilson joined the team midway through this year’s MX Nationals and starred on his way to third in the SX2 series to round out the year.