18-year-old Lithuanian, Arminas Jasikonis, will fill-in for the injured Ben Townley at Team Suzuki World MXGP for the remaining rounds of the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship.

Townley sustained a severe injury to his intestines during testing in Mantova, Italy, forcing the New Zealander out of his troubled returning MXGP season.

Jasikonis, who now bases himself out of Belgium, feels comfortable aboard the factory Suzuki RM-Z450 and admits the opportunity to ride for the team managed by Stefan Everts is a dream come true.

“Yesterday was my first real training and I still can’t believe it,” said Jasikonis. “It feels like a dream, working with the best people in such a professional team; it is great to be there.

“The feeling on the Suzuki is good. I did not need such a long time to get used to the RM-Z450 and the bike handling is very good. It was all really impressive for a first ride. I just want to collect as many points as possible and a top-13 place would be really good.”

Jasikonis will join teammate Kevin Strijbos for the first time at round 13 of the MXGP championship in the Czech Republic on 24 July.