Image: Supplied.

Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team has signed Tommy Searle for the final portion of the 2019 MXGP World Championship, moving across from the BOS GP team beginning with the Czech grand prix on 28 July.

Injuries to Clement Desalle, Evgeny Bobryshev, Alessandro Lupino and Julien Lieber have affected Kawasaki’s season, prompting the transfer of Searle into the factory operation for the final six rounds following Indonesia.

“I’m obviously very happy to have this opportunity to ride for the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team and I want to thank everyone involved for their support,” Searle said. “I will work hard with them in the coming weeks to be ready and prepared for the Czech GP, and will also do my best in the British series to claimed this title for Kawasaki and BOS who gave me this opportunity this season.”

Kawasaki Europe racing manager Steve Guttridge commented: “We started the season with six super-competitive riders on Kawasaki machinery in the MXGP class, but unfortunately after Germany we have only one still able to participate. It’s a tough sport! The BOS team changed to Kawasaki machinery only this season and have been working very hard to deliver results at the races.

“Tommy has been able to provide good feedback regards developing their race bike and particularly on the BOS suspension, which is the main goal for the team to compete at the highest level. Proof that he is comfortable on the bike is his current championship lead in the British series.

“However, with the requirement from KHI that our factory team continue to provide feedback from the MXGP races to help develop the KX450 production bike of the future, and with both Clement and Julien now missing through injury, we concluded that Tommy should move to KRT for the remainder of this season.

“But not immediately, as we feel he needs to be allowed the chance to first get used to the factory bike’s characteristics before lining up at the GP again so the target is for KRT and Tommy to be partnered up from the Czech MXGP. I would like to sincerely thank Olivier Bossard and Jean Jacques Luisetti for their cooperation in this area and wish the BOS team the very best.”

Currently the leader of the British championship in addition to his grand prix duties, Searle will race the remainder of the series on the same BOS Kawasaki he has been racing since the beginning of the season in the UK.