Yamaha Announces
2021 Motocross Team
Y
amaha announced a three-year partnership with the
Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing team to field its
campaign in both the 450 and 250 classes of the Monster
Energy AMA Supercross and Lucas Oil Pro Motocross
Championships. The Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing
450 team will be spearheaded by Aaron Plessinger and
newly crowned 2020 250SX and 250MX champion Dylan
Ferrandis, while the 250 team has signed two-time 250
MX Champion Jeremy Martin and Christian Craig to join re-
turning riders Colt Nichols, Justin Cooper and Jarrett Frye.
The team will now add the 450 premier class to its tent to
provide a consistent program for riders advancing through
the SX/MX racing ranks, says Yamaha. Along with key
sponsorship from Monster Energy, the team will receive full
support from Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA. CN
VOLUME 57 ISSUE 42 OCTOBER 20, 2020 P37
Jeremy Martin
will be back on
Yamahas again
starting in 2021.
Covington, Desalle Call It Quits
A
merican Thomas Covington and Belgian Clem-
ent Desalle say their racing days are behind
them. Covington, the American who spent the ma-
jority of his career racing motocross in Europe in
the 250cc division, moved up to the MXGP class
in 2020 but struggled since the beginning of the
season, scoring just 15 points after 13 rounds.
"I've decided that it was time to move on to
something new," the 24-year-old said on Insta-
gram. "To stop racing is one of the toughest deci-
sions I've ever made in my life because it's all I've
ever done for the last 20 years."
Desalle also said on Instagram that he is done
at the end of the MXGP season. "After 15 seasons
of GP, 11 as factory rider, I'll stop Grand Prix of
motocross end of this year. I'm thankful for what
it [brought] to me. I'm really happy I could be a
professional motocross rider in the world championship on a good level (a
dream when I was little boy). This decision now because of a package of
reasons, but I respect the rules I gave myself a long time ago." CN
At just 24 years of age
Thomas Covington has
retired from professional
racing. PHOTO: SIMON CUDBY
