Yamaha Motor Europe announces new line-up for 2020

Michelle Liew

August 17, 2019

Yamaha Motor Europe has confirmed its new racing strategy for 2020 with a new set of riders.

It has been announced that Yamaha Motor Europe will be reforming their racing strategy as both Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha MXGP and Monster Energy Kema Yamaha MX2 will be taking on Factory status in 2020. Yamaha Motor Europe N.V has also confirmed that next season’s rider line-up will include Jeremy Seewer, Gautier Paulin, Arnaud Tonus, Jago Geerts and Ben Watson.

Seewer, Paulin and Tonus have shown stellar results through the 2019 MXGP World Championship. They have accumulated as much as 14 podium finishes thus far, with four rounds remaining.

MX2 riders Jag Geerts and Ben Watson have managed to prove themselves as strong contenders this season as well. Geerts has secured five podium finishes and is three points away from top 3. Watson, on the other hand,  currently stands at seventh place in the championship and is suffering from a broken hand.

We certainly can’t wait to see what this new line-up from Yamaha Motor Europe will bring to the table.

Jeremy Seewer – 2020 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Rider

Photo credits: Yamaha Racing

“It feels really good to stay with Yamaha for another season, especially after what happened to me at the end of 2017. I really feel like Yamaha helped me out of that situation and gave me an opportunity to grow into the MXGP class, and also to grow with a Factory team again. I really enjoyed my time with the Rinaldi team where I had a really good relationship with everyone there and we’ve had a good season. Going into 2020, I am happy to remain on the Factory team even though the team will be different. It will be a new chapter and I look forward to building on it,” says Seewer as quoted from Yamaha Motor Europe.

Gautier Paulin – 2020 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Rider

Photo credits: Yamaha Racing

“Already this season, Yamaha and I have made some really big goals. We have put together a big testing plan that we feel will get me back to the top. We have worked hard to have a good feeling on the motorcycle, which I have, and I am now third position in the championship. There have been many races where my Yamaha has been upfront, and I have a lot of confidence in the brand and in my team. It feels really good to continue with Yamaha. One year moves quickly, and it is always a positive feeling to sign another year where we can improve the plan by making it stronger. Yamaha has put in a huge amount of effort to restructure the strategy for 2020, and I am very excited to move in this direction with them, and I am excited for what is yet to come.”

Arnaud Tonus – 2020 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Rider

Photo credits: Yamaha Racing

“It feels amazing to stay with Yamaha. We have been through a lot together, many highs, many lows. Yamaha supported me at my lowest. This year we were rewarded with many good times and a lot of success too. I am so happy to continue with the team for another season. It feels like home to me. I feel it’s very important to have the Yamaha Family behind me. Now we have extra support in 2020 as a Factory team. This will mean we have access to even better material and extra technical support which will help us evolve the bike further.  I am super excited for the 2020 season!”

Jago Geerts – 2020 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Rider

Photo credits: Yamaha Racing

“I am happy to sign with Yamaha for another season. I really look forward to 2020 where we will receive extra support from Yamaha as the Factory MX2 team, which will mean we will receive special material and added technical support. This will make a big difference in the development of the bike. I can’t wait to ride the Factory bike, and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve next season.”

Ben Watson – 2020 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Rider

Photo credits: Yamaha Racing

“It’s great to sign a new contract with Yamaha for next season, and that they still believe in me. I have always dreamed of being a factory rider, and next year I will have the opportunity. I am already looking forward to 2020 where I hope to achieve what I know I am capable of achieving. Perhaps the most exciting thing about the new deal is that we will have Factory support. I look forward to developing the YZ250FM and taking the bike to the next level. I am really grateful for this opportunity, and I hope to make the most of it.”