JAY WILSON TO RACE IN JAPAN

Yamaha Pro rider, Jay Wilson, has jetted out to Japan to contest Round 7 of the All-Japan Motocross Championship at the famous Sportsland Sugo circuit, north of Tokyo. Racing a YZ250F in the MX2 class, Wilson is understandably excited about the trip and the opportunity it’ll give him to work with Yamaha Motor Corporation in Japan.

So, how did this rare opportunity come up for the former Australian MX and SX champion? “The arrangement come about after Kota Toriyabe spent the 2020 season in Australia working with Wilson and the Yamalube Yamaha Team in an effort to fast-track his speed and experience,” explained Wilson’s race team manager (and YMA’s MX/SX Development Supervisor), Scott Bishop. “Now in return, YMC has extended an invitation to Jay to contest the Sugo event and showcase the YZ250F in race conditions at Japan’s home of motorsport.”

“This is a great opportunity for me and an experience that I will never forget,” Wilson says. “It was great to work with Kota-san last year while he was here in Australia and his riding certainly improved during his stay here. I will be in Japan for around one month and while the race will be the highlight, I will also get the chance to meet many of the people who help develop, design and build the bikes we race every weekend. YMC has been amazing to deal with and I can’t thank everyone enough for their hard work in making this trip happen in such trying circumstances with the world still so Covid-affected,” Wilson went on to say.

Wilson will compete with number 106 on his 2022 YZ250F, the same number assigned to him while racing in the US at the start of the 2020 season.

According to Yamaha Australia’s Matt Ferry, “We are excited to provide this opportunity for Jay and know that he will do his best not to just represent Yamaha Motor Australia, but also work hand in hand with YMC and make more of these experiences possible. We thank everyone from YMC who has worked hard behind the scenes to make this happen and wish Jay well as he gets to experience a trip of a lifetime.”

Round 7 of the All-Japan Motocross Nationals takes place on October 23-24.

By the way, if you’re not one of the 675,000 people who’ve already eyeballed (and listened to!) the video of Jay Wilson holding a 2022 YZ125 against the stopper on Transmoto’s Facebook page, do yourself a favour and check it out here.