Latvian EMX250 rider Karlis Sabulis will join the Kemea Yamaha Official MX Team, beginning from the MXGP of Great Britain on June 18th as a temporary replacement for the injured Brent Van doninck.
Sabulis, 19, is currently 11th in points in the 2016 EMX250 Championship, finishing sixth overall at Trentino in May and showing top ten speed in Germany and his native Latvia so far this season.
Van doninck, currently 12th overall in the 2016 MX2 Championship standings, will be out for six to eight weeks following wrist surgery sustained in June. The Belgian rider previously skipped rounds in Argentina and Mexico after successful hip surgery in April.
“Karlis is a talented young Yamaha rider who comes to us from EMX250 with a lot of potential. Up until now he has been racing on a standard engine, on standard bikes, and this is the next step. He is working with our mechanics and our trainer Jacky Vimond to show people what he can do,” said Kemea Yamaha Official MX Team Manager Marnicq Bervoets.
Sabulis began racing motocross in 2003 with support from his family in Cesis, Latvia, 80km northeast of Riga.
“Kemea is one of the best teams in MX2, and I’m very thankful for what is so far the best chance in my career to show my skills and learn as they help me,” said Sabulis.
“I prefer technical tracks, and I’m better on hardpack than on sand, but with Kemea I am very happy to learn from so many experienced professionals,” he added.
Van doninck is expected to remain out of competition through August.
“Brent recovered very quickly in April, but each injury is different. We have Lommel circled on the calendar at the end of July, but realistically it could be as long as Assen at the end of August before he is ready to race again,” Bervoets concluded.
