Australian riders Nathan Crawford and Bailey Malkiewicz will contest the MX2 class of the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship for Team Honda 114 Motorsports alongside Freshman Axel Louis in EMX250.
Nathan Crawford enters the team following a successful term in the MX Nationals, where he secured fourth. Crawford had eight moto podiums and two race wins in the MX2 category. An overall win at round eight was an obvious highlight during the ten-round campaign and made it clear to the Honda 114 Motorsports outfit that he would have the ability to contend on the world stage.
“I am pleased to announce my plans with Honda 114 Motorsports for the 2020 MXGP season,” said Crawford. “Riding for such an established team in Europe is something that I have always worked towards and dreamt of! When my agent informed me about the possibility of joining Honda 114 Motorsports, I believed it was a great combination to give me the best opportunity to have a successful 2020 campaign.”
Bailey Malkiewicz has also shown incredible potential as he took the MX Nationals MXD title last year and then backed that up by taking the 125cc championship at the FIM Junior World Motocross Championship. Malkiewicz stepped up to the MX2 class in the Australian MX Nationals this year and ended up seventh in the championship. A second overall at round five was a season-best finish.
“I am really excited to have this excellent opportunity to ride for Honda 114 Motorsports in MX2 in 2020,” said Malkiewicz. “My manager, parents and I have been working on creating this ride for the past two years and I am grateful that Honda 114 Motorsports are supportive and giving me this opportunity. I believe it will be an excellent start to my MXGP career.”
Livia Lancelot Team Manager, is excited to sign to two young Aussies. “I like the Australian spirit, as everyone knows! I am happy to announce that Nathan Crawford and Bailey Malkiewicz will be racing for Honda 114 Motorsports in 2020. They both arrived one week ago and have already started working hard. It was their first day on the bike today and I am happy to finally see them on the 2020 Honda CRF250R. They are looking fast and motivated, so we will see what the new MX2 season will bring for them. We will also continue to support Axel Louis in the EMX250 class – he is only fifteen. This will be his first year of training hard every day. Eric Sorby will be with us full-time to help take care of the riders, so I cannot wait for the season to start.”
If you’re wondering what happened to former Team Honda 114 Motorsports rider Mitch Evans, well he’s made it big time and is stepping up to the MXGP class next year for the Factory HRC Honda Team to ride along side defending world champion Tim Gajser.
The 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship will fire into life at the Grand Prix of Great Britain on March 1. Axel Louis will race at round one of the EMX250 series at the Grand Prix of The Netherlands on March 8.