Evans to replace Beaton at MXoN

Motorcycling Australia has confirmed a last-minute change to Australia’s 2016 Motocross of Nations (MXoN) team, set to compete at Maggiora in Italy on September 24-25.

Current MX Nationals MXD (Under 19s) champ, Yamalube Yamaha Racing Team’s Mitch Evans, will replace current MX Nationals MX2 champ, DPH Motorsports Yamaha’s Jed Beaton, after Beaton sustained a collarbone fracture during practice in Europe on Friday, September 16, forcing him to withdraw from the competition.

Beaton released a comment via social media last night, stating: “Devastated to say I won’t be throwing on the green and gold to represent my country at the MXoN. I had a small crash on Friday riding at Lommel and fractured my collarbone. Very sorry to everyone that made this possible and so sorry to let everyone down.”

Evans, who will compete in the MX2 class this weekend, is now on his way to Europe to join current MXoN Australian team competitors, Yamaha’s Dean Ferris and Suzuki’s Todd Waters (who replaced the injured Kirk Gibbs), before the event.

^ The 2016 Pirelli MXD (Under 19s) MX Nationals champ, Mitch Evans, pictured with Connor Tierney (second) and Cooper Pozniak (third).

Despite the setback, the Australian team feel they have a strong replacement in Evans. This will be Evans’ first MXoN appearance and despite the occurrence of events, Evans is excited to represent his country and demonstrate his talent to the European scene.

“Jed and myself get along pretty well and we have done some training together this year so I am bummed for him,” said Evans. “I will try and do my best for him and the team. This year hasn’t gone the way we wanted it to go and it hasn’t really sunk it yet that I am leaving. I’m still trying to take it all in. We have definitely come a long way this year and we are fit and healthy, and prepared to go and do our job over there.”

“I only found out that Jed got hurt on Saturday night after racing at the supercross, and then I didn’t think anything of it – I didn’t think I would get the call,” Evans continued. “But on late Sunday afternoon I got the call and from there it’s been a pretty hectic 24 hours getting everything ready. The biggest thing I am looking forward to this weekend is just being able to represent my country, and to do the best I can and hopefully make a few people proud.”