Roan van de Moosdijk has been announced as an HRC Honda pilot
Dutch rider Roan van de Moosdijk has joined Team HRC as a replacement for the injured Ruben Fernandez. The Spaniard injured his knee in a first-corner incident at the Patagonia-Argentina MXGP and has since undergone surgery that will sideline him for the time being. Team HRC therefore decided it was the right decision to bring in another rider and with v/d Moosdijk available, the deal was quickly made so that he can compete in the third round of the 2024 MXGP World Championship in Riola Sardo, Sardinia.
After an injury-plagued 2023 campaign, v/d Moosdijk still finished within 20 points of fifth place in the MX2 championship, including two podium finishes and one race win. But because the age rule meant he had to move up to the MXGP class this year. However, the rookie was unable to make his debut in the first two rounds of 2024 and has continued to train in the hope of getting a chance to impress later.
However, that opportunity came sooner than he expected, as Fernandez was injured in the first corner of the first qualifying race of the year. Although the #70 tried to cross the finish line a few weeks later during his home GP in Spain, it was simply not to be. This has opened the door for the 250 EMX2019 Champion and while a week of preparation on a brand new machine isn't the ideal way to make your debut in the toughest motocross championship in the world, the talented 23 year old will give it everything he has to to establish himself at the top of the MXGP class.
Team HRC has had great success finding and nurturing young talent. Tim Gajser and Fernandez have both shown that the Honda CRF450R is a great platform to make that big step up from the MX2 class and now it's v/d Moosdijk's turn to make that leap, starting at 6 and April 7 in the deep sands of Riola Sardo.
Roan van de Moosdijk: "When I heard about this opportunity, I knew I had to grab it with both hands. The opportunity to ride for Team HRC doesn't come along very often and I'm hopeful that I can show everyone what I'm capable of in what will be my full-time debut in the MXGP class. It certainly won't be easy to get up to speed straight away on the Honda CRF450R, but seeing how well Tim (Gajser) has ridden it, I know it's a very competitive bike and I'm looking forward to getting started to go and feel good about it. I want to thank everyone who supported me to get to this moment and I can't wait to get to Riola and line up for that first gate drop."
Photos: HRC Honda
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