Image: Foremost Media.

WBR Yamaha has signed the youthful line-up of Levi Rogers and Ryder Kingsford for the 2022 season, streamlining its operations for next year with both riders entering the MX2 category of Penrite ProMX.

Rogers, 18, will enter his second season in MX2 next year and will be looking to turn the flashes of speed shown in his rookie campaign into consistency and results after moving across from Yamalube Yamaha.

“2021 was my first year in MX2 and, while there was speed and some good results, there was some mistakes which I need to reduce to be a contender at each and every round,” Rogers stated. “I’m thankful Yamaha were keen to keep me on board and that Travis and Nathan from WBR Yamaha offered me a great opportunity for the new season.

“We already have a few plans in place and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into a new year with the team. Their bikes have been proven to be good, we have a great group of sponsors on-board and hopefully we can get a full season completed. I’m excited for 2022 already.”

After finishing runner-up in the inaugural MX3 championship this year, Kingsford – like Rogers – is a long-term product of the Yamaha Junior Racing program and will step up to MX2 with multiple Australian championships to his name.

“I know stepping into the MX2 class is a big decision to make, but Yamaha and WBR were happy for me to take it and I thank them for showing the faith in me when I could have stayed another year in MX3,” Kingsford explained.

“Getting the support of the team at WBR Yamaha is awesome and we have already had a successful couple of days testing and I feel right at home on the bike and with the team. We plan on doing as many events as possible before the start of the ProMX Championship in March, so I’m well prepared for what’s to come.”

Also forming a valuable part of WBR’s structure in 2022, former national regular Dylan Long will be involved in a range of activities at selected rounds, on hand to offer both Rogers and Kingsford advice.

WBR Yamaha team manager Travis Whitten added: “Since becoming part of the Yamaha Racing group in 2018, we have help guide and assist several riders onto bigger and better things within Yamaha. It’s a role we take seriously as we mould young riders as they leave the YJR program and move to the senior and professional ranks.

“With Levi and Ryder, we feel we have two fast and dedicated young riders who both want to forge ahead with their racing careers. Our aim is to get Levi into the top five in MX2 as we believe he has the speed to run there each weekend and expose Ryder to the top level of racing in Australia and fast track his improvement.

“It will be also great to have Dylan around the team at some rounds to offer some advice for the young guys. Dylan is motivated to do well and has set some goals to achieve for himself and will give us good representation across the major classes. We are all set for 2022 and as a family and a team, we have missed racing over the past two years so the 2022 season can’t come fast enough for us.”

The announcement signals the departure of New Zealander Maximus Purvis from WBR Yamaha, not expected to be competing in Australia next season, while it is tipped that MX2 standout Alex Larwood will effectively trade places with Rogers as he moves across to the Yamalube Yamaha Racing team from WBR.