Image: Supplied.

Team HRC is taking a measured approach with Australian Mitch Evans as he graduates to the premier MXGP category in the world championship next year, according to team manager Marcus Marcus Pereira de Freitas.

Evans’ signing with the factory squad alongside reigning world champion Tim Gajser was made official this week during a Honda Racing Corporation presentation at EICMA in Milan.

The Queenslander is no stranger to riding a 450, racing to runner-up honours in the 2018 MX Nationals before representing Team Australi at RedBud’s Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) during the same year.

With a season under his belt on the world championship circuit in the MX2 category, Marcus Pereira de Freitas explained the team will completely support him in his transition to the MXGP class.

“We are also very excited to have Mitch join us for the 2020 season on the Honda CRF450RW,” said Marcus Pereira de Freitas. “We know that he can ride a 450 well, after his showing at the Motocross of Nations in RedBud when he was just 19 years old, so it is great to have him under our awning for next year.

“However, while the world championships start in March, he knows he has to do a lot of training to do before that in order get ready for the 20 round series on this bigger machine.

“His rookie season last year had some positive results and he now knows a little of what to expect with the tracks and the conditions so that will help, but of course he will have a whole team around him, supporting him and making sure he is able to go out there and deliver some good results for Team HRC.”

Evans scored a pair of podiums in maiden MX2 World Championship campaign this year, completing the series with a ranking of 11th despite missing almost a third of the season.