Image: Supplied.

Team Honda 114 Motorsports has officially announced Australian duo Nathan Crawford and Bailey Malkiewicz will form its MX2 World Championship line-up entering the 2020 season.

With countryman Mitch Evans transferring to Team HRC in MXGP, the 114 Motorsports team managed by Livia Lancelot has taken two newcomers direct from the MX Nationals for their first season in Europe.

“I like the Australian spirit, as everyone knows!” Lancelot said. “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. Eric Sorby will be with us full-time to help take care of the riders, so I cannot wait for the season to start.”

Both Crawford and Malkiewicz have long been rumoured to be joining Team Honda 114 Motorsports, each sitting out the current Australian Supercross Championship in order to focus on the challenge ahead in Europe. This year saw Crawford claim fourth in the Australian MX2 championship, winning the overall at Maitland’s eighth round.

“I am pleased to announce my plans with Honda 114 Motorsports for the 2020 MXGP season,” commented 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.”

Malkiewicz put himself on the international radar by winning the 125cc Junior Motocross World Championship at Horsham in 2018, also capturing the MXD crown that season. This year he claimed seventh as a rookie in MX2 at the national level.

“I am really excited to have this excellent opportunity to ride for Honda 114 Motorsports in MX2 in 2020,” he explained. “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.”

Since its formation as a MX2 World Championship team in 2018, Team Honda 114 Motorsports has been led by Australian talent, firstly with Hunter Lawrence before he transferred to the US and then this year with Evans as he established himself on the world stage.