HRC announced that MX2 World Champion Tim Gajser will jump into the MXGP class for 2016 at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan.
The Slovenian is a works Honda rider on a multi year flexible deal and despite claims that the 18 year old will remain in MX2 for 2016 “whatever happens” in a press conference at the Grand Prix of Belgium in August, #243 will now give up the chance to run with the gold plate next year.
No reason for the move was provided in the official press release by Honda but Gajser trains frequently with the CRF450R and impressed with his speed at the 2014 Motocross of Nations in Latvia.
His surprise departure from MX2 leaves Honda with just Jorge Zaragoza on the 250 and the Gariboldi team staring at little chance of repeat title success in 2016. HRC Sport Manager Jean-Michel Bayle stated that Honda were “looking at options” at Supercross Paris-Lille.
A distant opportunity could surround the future of Dylan Ferrandis. The Frenchman has been open about his desire to attempt AMA Supercross and Motocross and signed a flexible contract with Kawasaki last year with a commitment to race MX2 Grand Prix in 2016.
Circumstances around the Monster Energy Kawasaki team may have altered with Ferrandis allegedly wanting to compete at the two closing rounds of the season in Mexico and USA in the wake of his recovery from knee surgery and an injury picked up at round six in Spain but was denied by the team.
The former CLS crew are now also working in harmony with Steve Dixon’s Monster Energy DRT crew and Cosworth on engine development. When asked about his plans for the coming months the MX2 GP winner – speaking disappointedly after his bad luck in Lille – was vague. “I cannot say too much at the moment. I don’t know what I will do,” he commented. “I will know in the next week. For sure not MXGP, MX2 but I don’t know the rest.”
It is unlikely that Ferrandis will breakaway from green but could push for a USA move earlier than expected. The question remains in terms of who could fill the empty saddle on the title winning bike in MX2…
