Image: Supplied.

Honda Racing has signed Jed Beaton for the 2023 season in Australia, set for his anticipated homecoming following an extended stint in the MXGP World Championship paddock.

After spending four years in the MX2 category and scoring multiple podiums alongside a moto win, Beaton aged out of the category and graduated to MXGP this season with F&H Kawasaki.

A strong start to the year saw the 24-year-old finish P6 at Matterley Basin, however, a shoulder injury sustained at Mantova plagued much of his 2022 campaign. The former MX2 national champion now eyes domestic MX1 success in Australia with the factory Honda opportunity.

“I ended up coming home, I was speaking to a few teams over there just waiting for a deal,” Beaton explained. “Obviously at the end of the year the budgets and stuff get sorted, but I was waiting for a little bit of an extra budget over there and see what we could do.

“At the end of the day I was just waiting and waiting, so I kind of made a decision myself, I kind of really wanted to know what I was doing, so decided to make the decision to come home and race here.

“Next year is just to get back to full health, feel good, feel good on the bike and be competitive over here. My main goal would be to go out and win races and be solid in the championship.

“The main goal is that, but first is just getting back into the swing of things, getting back home, obviously been away for six years so getting everything back sorted, and then building from there to a solid championship.

Beaton will join Kyle Webster in Honda Racing’s MX1 program, with the eight-round 2023 Penrite ProMX Championship to commence on 5 March at Wonthaggi. He has also been listed for the 2023 Australian Supercross Championship.