REVO returns to the motocross paddock in 2021 with Kiwi hero and former REVO team rider Dylan Walsh to the fore in their two-man Kawasaki team.
The REVO Seven Kawasaki team will take aim at major domestic MX1 silverware along with selected MXGP and European Motocross Championship (EMX) rounds.
After taking a year out of competition, Team Principal Mark Yates has joined forces with Kawasaki UK and the Seven clothing brand to sign Walsh and James Dunn.
Walsh won the ACU British Motocross MX2 Championship for REVO in 2019 and, with this year’s series cancelled, the 22-year-old New Zealander is looking to make it back-to-back crowns by winning on a 450 in 2021.
As well as contesting the British championship on a pair of KX450s, Walsh and 25-year-old Dunn will be active in Europe with Canterbury’s Walsh targeting a number of European MXGP rounds while Dunn could possibly compete in selected EMX/Open races.
“This exciting opportunity has come about through Ross Burridge at Kawasaki UK and along with Roger Larsen at Seven we’ve put this great team together,” said Yates.
“We decided to take a year out in 2020 but REVO will be back in the paddock next season! We have forged a great relationship and a strong bond with Dylan over the last two years. He had a number of opportunities but he wanted us involved.
“He knows he can trust us and that we’ll do what we say we will – when we say we will – and that we’re looking out for his interests as well as our own. I would say that Dylan’s probably the favourite next year.
“Considering that this will only be his second season on a 450 his raw speed is incredible. He’s as fast as anyone out there and he’ll be a lot more race-ready going into 2021. We are still the reigning MX2 British champions so Dylan is moving up into MX1 and looking for the double.
“That’s our main focus. We all know how fast and stylish James can be when he’s on his A game. He hasn’t ridden this year so he’s going to have to get his bike fitness built up but I know he’s already training. We’re not expecting him to set the world on fire but it would be nice to see him get up into the top five on occasion.”
Sam Yates, the team manager, said: “I’m excited to be working with Kawasaki and very excited to see what Dylan can do on their 450 because he’s shown great potential in GPs. It’s also good to have James back and if we can get the best out of him he will surprise a lot of people with how well he can go – he can be a top-five guy and I reckon he could even be knocking on the door of a podium at times.”
Walsh said he “can’t wait” for next year to begin.
“I’m going into the British championship as the reigning MX2 champion and hopefully we can pull all the pieces together and come out as MX1 champion. We’re also doing a few GPs which will be good. Sam, Mark and I have a great relationship and Roger from Seven is a big part of that as well.”
© Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
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