Empire Kawasaki has signed reigning All Japan MX2 champion Haruki Yokoyama for the 2021 Penrite ProMX Championship, scheduled to join the Victorian team from round two next month.

Yokoyama won the 2019 and 2020 Japanese titles and will compete in Australia riding a KX250 prepared by factory technician – and wife – Haruka Yokoyama.

While Yokoyama will miss Sunday’s opening round due to international travel restrictions, it is expected he will arrive in time for Canberra on 2 May. Otherwise, he will be a definite for Gillman’s third round on 30 May.

“I am excited to be racing with the fast guys in Australia and I am looking forward to riding the MX tracks,” commented the 22-year-old. “I have heard there are a lot of good tracks in Australia.

“My goal for this year is to get used to the Australian racing style and stay healthy. At the same time, I want to win some races – I will need to take it step by step, but I am always aiming for the podium.”

The arrival of Yokoyama completes Empire Kawasaki’s two-rider line-up for the coming season, the Tyson Cherry-owned organisation also entering Western Australian Jayden Rykers on-board a KX450 in MX1.