Image: MXN.

Newly-crowned Motul MX Nationals MXD champion Mitch Evans will represent Team Australia at this weekend’s 2016 Motocross of Nations (MXoN) at Maggiora, Italy, in place of the injured Jed Beaton.

Evans, just 17 years of age and still in high school, clinched the MXD crown at his second attempt this season aboard the YZ250F and has now been called in to join Todd Waters (MXGP) and Dean Ferris (Open) as Australia’s MX2 entry.

“Jed and myself get along pretty well and we have done some training together this year, so I am bummed for him,” Evans commented. “I will try and do my best for him and the team. This year hasn’t gone the way we wanted it to go and it hasn’t really sunk in yet that I am leaving – I’m still trying to take it all in.

“We have definitely come along way this year and we are fit and healthy and prepared to go and do our job over there. I couldn’t be any more excited. I only found out that Jed got hurt on Saturday night after racing at the supercross and then I didn’t think anything of it – I didn’t think I would get the call.

“But on late Sunday afternoon I got the call and from there it’s been a pretty hectic 24 hours getting everything ready. The biggest thing I am looking forward to this weekend is just being able to represent my country and to do the best I can and hopefully make a few people proud.”

Evans is the second fill-in rider called into Team Australia for the 2016 running, as Waters was just last week confirmed to be replacing last year’s MX1 national champion Kirk Gibbs as our MXGP entry in the prestigious international event.