Cheyne Boyd will replace Tye Simmonds at Berry Sweet/Lucas Oil/Yamaha. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Berry Sweet/Lucas Oil/Yamaha team owner Craig Anderson has confirmed to MotoOnline.com.au that Cheyne Boyd will officially replace Tye Simmonds for the remainder of 2013.

Simmonds sensationally quit the sport mid-season earlier this week, opening up a position aboard the Newcastle-based team’s YZ450F. Click here for complete details.

That left Anderson scrambling for a competitive replacement six rounds into the 10-round Monster Energy MX Nationals season, with Boyd agreeing to a deal after spending the first half of this year riding on a part-time basis.

Boyd had been competitive in guest MX1 appearances aboard a privateer Honda at Murray Bridge and Wonthaggi earlier this year, and also currently leads the 30-39 years Vets series. Ironically, Anderson sits third in those standings and is the defending champion.

The move marks Boyd’s return to Yamaha for the first time since season 2010, where he was part of the CDR squad before switching to Honda in 2011.

“Boydy has been around for a lot of years,” Anderson told MotoOnline. “He’s been doing this a lot of years, basically growing up racing with Chad [Reed] and I’ve raced with him a lot as well. He’s had podiums, race wins and has been around the block.

“I think it will be good for us as a team because he’s a hard worker, has a lot of experience testing, which will only make the bike better and us better as well. I’m just looking for him to finish the Motocross off strong.

“He had strong speed in the couple of rounds he already did this year, so hopefully we can get him comfortable on the bike, get him back up front – that’s the plan.

“We have to take it one step at a time, but the past couple of days have been good testing and we are looking forward to it.

Boyd will make his full-time return to racing this weekend at Hervey Bay during the seventh round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals.

The agreement also includes Boyd to contest the Australian Supercross Championship, which commences in September at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway.