Team HRC MX2 has officially confirmed Australia’s Jed Beaton will contest this weekend’s MXGP of Czech Republic, marking his world championship debut.

As indicated on MotoOnline.com.au yesterday, the current Australian MX2 champion will step up from Carglass Honda in EMX250 to join Michele Cervellin on the factory CRF250RW in the next three GPs.

Beaton has impressed this year in the European championship despite a broken collarbone forcing him out of the past two rounds, however surgery has enabled him to take up the opportunity with HRC’s factory organisation for Loket, Lommel and Assen.

“I am really excited to be riding for HRC as it is known for being one of the best teams in the paddock,” Beaton commented. “I am grateful that my team Carglass Honda have allowed me to do this in between the EMX250 championship this year. I got to test the bike this week and I felt comfortable on it straight away which is a positive start.

“This will be my first race in MX2, so I am not expecting anything major for my first race, but I have got expectations and I want to tick them off and hopefully improve every time I go out and ride. Loket looks like a pretty good track, it’s hard pack and stony but I don’t mind that so let’s see what I can do this weekend!”

HRC MXGP general manager Roger Harvey welcomed Beaton to Honda’s official MX2 team, in place of injured Japanese team regular Chihiro Notsuka.

“We welcome Jed Beaton to HRC this weekend who is currently racing for Carglass Honda in the EMX250 class,” Harvey said. “As he is already a member of the Honda Racing family and whilst there is a break in the EMX250 series, this is a good opportunity for Jed to get a taste of racing in MX2 and to show the progression that other Honda riders are capable of.”