Wilvo Yamaha with Shaun Simpson and Arnaud Tonus in the MXGP
Yamaha Motor Europe today comes with the official news of the Wilvo Yamaha MXGP Team line-up. Louis Vosters' team will only concentrate on the MXGP class next season. The British Shaun Simpson and the Swiss Arnaud Tonus will therefore be on the YZ2017Fs in 450.
Normally, Alexander Tonkov, who was already part of the Wilvo Yamaha Team, would make the transition to the MXGP class, but because the Russian rider is having visa problems in Russia, Yamaha has decided to take a different path. Shaun Simpson and Arnaud Tonus have both signed a two-year contract.
Shaun Simpson : “The last time I rode Yamaha was very positive for me and I think it was still the best bike I have ridden in terms of feel and comfort. So I'm optimistic about the next two seasons. I am therefore satisfied with what Louis has built up, a good team and a support structure that has been set up in the interest of the rider. Arnaud is also a great person to work with and I am sure that the atmosphere in the team will be good to work together in that way. Yamaha has proven in recent years that they have grown enormously and have also invested enormously in the MXGP. I feel this is the right time to be blue again.”
Arnaud Tonus: “It's a completely different class for me and even a different championship with twenty Grand Prix's on the programme. But I'm happy to be back and of course I still have the experience here and that is an advantage for me. It's going to be a long season with a lot of competition on the 450 and also a big challenge. But I'm really happy with Yamaha and Louis was very driven to get this deal done. Hopefully we get good preparation and a decent winter to be able to work. I will have my base somewhere between Belgium and Switzerland where I have a nice environment to train. The Geneva Supercross will be my first outing on the Yamaha and I am already looking forward to it and hope to be back on the bike in the coming weeks.”
Text: @Kris…
Photo:Yamaha
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