Following the official announcement of Yamaha Motor Europe’s reformed Racing Strategy back in August 2019, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 teams are all set for an exciting 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship season.
Spearheading Yamaha’s attack in the premier class, MXGP, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team will line up last season’s front runners Jeremy Seewer, Gautier Paulin and Arnaud Tonus on YZ450FM machinery.
Seewer made enormous progress in his riding and race craft in 2019, where he celebrated six podium performances on his way to finishing second overall in the MXGP World Championship. The talented 25-year-old is excited to remain on his tested and proven works YZ450FM for yet another season where the ultimate goal is to turn last years’ silver medal into gold.
Also looking to build on last season’s success where they quickly accumulated 10 podium finishes in the first 12 rounds, and with the help of Yamaha’s leading-edge YZ450FM, Paulin and Tonus are determined to add to their podium tallies in 2020. Paulin narrowly missed the bronze medal by a slender 8-points in 2019, while his slick and stylish teammate, Tonus, rounded out the top-five.
The re-establishment of the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team bolsters Yamaha’s 2020 Racing Strategy with the team lining up two title contenders in the form of Jago Geerts and Ben Watson. As one of only three race winners in 2019, reigning bronze medalist Geerts will line up for the new season on Yamaha’s cutting edge YZ250FM as a title favourite, while Watson will be out for redemption after an injury-struck 2019.
For the first time, Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. has aligned its Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP and MX2 team livery, with Yamaha Motor USA’s Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing team. The alignment highlights Yamaha Racing’s worldwide partnership with Monster Energy and works to boost Yamaha Racing’s global image.
The 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship will consist of 40 races and will take place over 20 rounds starting March 1st at the spectacular Matterley Basin venue in Winchester, England.
“This year we have expanded our efforts and will enter the FIM Motocross World Championship with two Factory teams, one in MXGP and one in MX2. It is the first time in many years that we will run two set-ups, which is really exciting for everyone involved. We are really happy to have last year’s MXGP runner-up, Jeremy Seewer, inside the Yamaha Family for a third year. He is still really young and has already made incredible progress over the past three years. He will headline the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team and will be strengthened by teammates Arnaud Tonus and Gautier Paulin, two riders that celebrated many podium finishes in 2019. In MX2, we are definitely excited to see how Jago Geerts get on as a very young rider that is capable of challenging the top step of the podium. He will be challenged by his teammate Ben Watson, a rider that will be entering his last year in MX2 as he will reach the age limit this season and is determined to make his last year a good one. It’s nice to go into the season looking good, with the global 2020 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory team livery, and feeling good too! We look forward to round one of the MXGP and MX2 World Championships that will kick off at Matterley Basin in England on March 1st.” – Alexandre Kowalski – Yamaha Motor Europe MX Racing Manager
