Image: Supplied.

Yamaha has unveiled its look for the 2019 MXGP World Championship, launching both the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing MXGP and Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha MXGP squads.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing MXGP will field former world champion Romain Febvre – his fourth year with the outfit – and newcomer Jeremy Seewer, with the duo both piloting the YZ450FM.

Strengthening Yamaha’s 2019 efforts, Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha MXGP has retained Arnaud Tonus for a third season. In addition, the team has welcomed a familiar name back to the Yamaha damily in the form of Gautier Paulin.

“I feel we have a very strong line up in MXGP this season,” said Yamaha Motor Europe MX racing manager Erik Eggens. “This year Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP will have Romain Febvre and Jeremy Seewer under the awning. We drafted Jeremy into the factory team because I saw some great potential last year with the Wilvo team in terms of his determination, motivation and consistency, so I felt he deserved the opportunity to compete on the YZ450FM alongside Romain.

“And of course Romain is a rider that I think has the speed to win races. This year he is going into the new season following a fantastic winter. He missed some races at the end of last year and took the time required to recover fully, which he has done and I believe that he will come back even stronger than before.

“We are confident we will see some excellent racing from both Romain and Jeremy, and also from our Official MXGP team, Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha MXGP who also have a fantastic line up with Gautier Paulin and Arnaud Tonus. Both Gautier and Arnaud have an enormous amount of potential. Both riders look very comfortable on the YZ450F and have had a great off-season with everything going to plan thus far.”

The opening round of the 2019 MXGP World Championship is scheduled for 3 March at Neuquen in Patagonia Argentina.