Image: Foremost Media.

Yamaha Junior Racing product Levi Rogers will graduate to the MXD category in 2020 with Yamalube Yamaha Racing, while the squad has retained Jay Wilson for a third consecutive season in the MX2 class.

In another Yamaha team restructure for 2020, Yamalube Yamaha Racing will re-enter the MXD category for the first time since 2017, abandoning its MX1 effort that was headed up by class rookie Richie Evans in 2019.

Queensland’s Rogers enters the MXD division after a strong showing at the 2019 KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championship (AJMX), earning runner-up honours in the 125cc 15 Years title fight.

“I was pretty excited when the Yamalube Yamaha Racing Team came to me and offered me a ride for 2020,” Rogers stated. “I guess one of the benefits of being with Yamaha Junior Racing is that if you get the results in juniors, then the next door opens with Yamaha into MXD and this is a great opportunity for me on such a good team.

“I know everyone on the team and have worked with them before when I did the MXR races at the MX Nationals for the last two years, so it’s not a new environment. I also have Jay as a team-mate, and I can talk things over with him as he has so much knowledge and experience at this level.

“For the last 12 months I have watched the senior races closely and I can’t wait to be apart of them now. Yamaha Junior Racing was awesome for me and I had six successful years with them but now its time to take the next step in my career and give it all I have.”

Former MX2 and SX2 Wilson, who will race the opening five rounds of the 2020 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, returns for his third straight year with the Queensland-based operation.

“I’m lucky to be surrounded by a great team and work with a great company like Yamaha that I don’t event look elsewhere at the end of each year,” Wilson explained. “We have not only a successful working relationship but a good friendship off the track and the results show we do the work.

“2019 was a consistent year for the most part and reasonably successful but no championships. I’m still motivated to win championships and that’s what I will be striving for in 2020. I’m in the prime of my career and want to keep improving every year with my racing and my technique.

“It’s also exciting to have Levi with us next year. He is a quiet kid and doesn’t say too much but I know he listens, and it will be great to be able to help and guide him at each round. His speed is good, and I think he can do well if he keeps working hard.”

The addition of Rogers confirms the departure of Evans after two seasons with the team.