Swedish rider Alvin Ostlund will join Wilvo Standing Construct Yamaha Official MX2 Team as a last-minute replacement for the injured Julien Lieber ahead of the season opener in Qatar on 27 February.

In 2014 Ostlund finished third overall in the world junior championship before claiming the overall Swedish National Championship in and a fifth place finish in the EMX250 championship in 2015.

The 18-year old originally started the 2016 season with former world champion David Philippaerts’ DP19 Yamaha Official Team, and has already competed in two Italian Championship races this year.

“This is a big change for me, and I’m going to a lot of races against the best guys this year,” said Ostlund. “So it’s important to thank David for the intense and fruitful training and especially my mechanic Daniele Castiglioni at DP19, as well as Tim Mathys, Louis Vosters and my two new mechanics Carlo van Loon and Valentin Touchet at Wilvo Standing Construct for the trust and opportunity.”

Lieber underwent surgery to both hips at the end of 2015 and his recovery process has been more extensive than anticipated, so for Louis Vosters, co-owner of the Wilvo Standing Construct Yamaha Official MX2 Team, the opportunity to draft Ostlund into the squad is something he looks forward to.

“It’s unfortunate news that Julien needs more recovery from his injuries and won’t be able to start the season in time, so we are really happy to have this opportunity to welcome the young and talented Ostlund to our team for 2016,” said Vosters. “He has already raced EMX250 and was fifth last year, so the transition to MX2 will be a big step but not too big for him.

“For Wilvo Standing Construct Yamaha we see a chance to build a long-term relationship with a young rider and will be very happy to see him in the top 10 this year.”

At this point in time a scheduled return date for Lieber to the MX2 world championship has not been confirmed.