Yamalube Yamaha Racing will set its sights on the MX2 class championship for the 2018 MX Nationals after signing former champion Jay Wilson alongside Richie Evans for next season.

Wilson returns to Yamaha for the first time since capturing the 2015 national championship, in which he rode for JCR Yamaha with considerable support from the in-house team operated by Scott Bishop.

“Coming back to Yamaha and especially to Yamalube Yamaha is awesome and the guys here just get racing,” Wilson said. “I roll in on day one and my bike, gear, spares, tyres, oils and everything is ready to go – they just make racing easy and are always one step ahead.

“I enjoy racing with this team and had my best results surrounded by them, so I look forward to a great year of racing with them. The YZ250F is the best bike in the class and I felt right at home the moment I got back on it. I feel motivated to go racing again.

“We have also had some discussions about my future within racing and the motorcycle industry and Yamaha and I have come up with some plans regarding that. When I finish racing I would love to still be involved somehow and there are a lot of opportunities within Yamaha that I can grow, so I’m looking forward to announcing those plans during the year. But right now, I’m a racer and I want to win races and championships in 2018.”

Joining Wilson will be 21-year-old North Queenslander Evans. After claiming ninth in this year’s standings with a number of inspired performances as a privateer, Evans will be able to focus full-time on motocross from next season. Both deals will extend through the Australian Supercross Championship in SX2.

“I couldn’t believe it when I got the call and offered the ride with Yamaha,” commented Evans. “I have never been able to dedicate myself 100 percent to racing due to my school or university commitments, but with this opportunity with Yamalube Yamaha I’m going to grab it with both hands and give it my all.

“2017 was tough trying to fit everything and it placed a lot of pressure on my family to get to each event to support me, but now there won’t be any mad rush on the Saturday prior to a round to have the bike ready and everything sorted. I can’t thank the Yamalube Yamaha team enough for taking a chance on me and I will do everything I can to repay their faith in me.”

The MX Nationals series gets underway in April with a 10-round championship over eight events. The team will contest select pre-season races in Queensland prior to round one, ensuring they are fully prepared coming into the season.