Talking Point: Evans to HRC Honda

Jonathan McCready: It hasn’t been the best kept secret that Mitch Evans, the smooth Aussie who lit up the early stages of the MX2 championship, would be moving up to the 450 division with factory Honda for 2020! But is it the right move for both parties?

It was a bit surprising that Calvin Vlaanderen, who had brought Honda back to the sharp end in MX2 didn’t get rewarded with a factory 450 deal for 2020 and then draft Evans in as a replacement for Vlaanderen in the MX2 class.

Evans has only one year’s experience in world championship racing and he would have been a contender in MX2 in 2020 with a factory bike and a year’s experience under his belt.

Now he is going into the bear pit and competing in the toughest motorcycle championship in the world, MXGP.

It’s a big jump with such little experience but Mitch is a very good 450 rider and being an Aussie, isn’t intimidated by anyone. He should be competitive in the top ten but the class is stacked and it won’t be easy.

While it might have made more sense for Evans to go to HRC Honda but in the MX2 class for another year of learning and a chance of competing for a world title, an early move to MXGP, thanks to his ability on the big machine and the support he will have around him, will make Evans one to keep an eye on next season.

If he gets the starts, he could be a quick learner if he adapts to pace, intensity and depth of the premier motocross championship in the world.

Andy McKinstry: In all honesty, Mitch Evans to MXGP with the HRC Honda team doesn’t really make that much sense to me. Yes, Evans has rode a 450cc in Australia in the past and is probably more comfortable on the bike but in MX2 he was a front runner and within the next two years could have challenged for the MX2 World Championship.

Evans has just turned 21 years old, why rush him into the MXGP class which is absolutely stacked? In my opinion, there was plenty of time for Evans to make the jump and could have been successful in MX2 during that time.

As for Vlaanderen, I feel sorry for him in all honesty. He did everything Honda would have wanted from him in MX2 but yet they didn’t keep him for MXGP. At least Vlaanderen has secured a ride which will be official soon.

I’d have liked Honda to keep the same structure as they had this year – Gajser and Vlaanderen in MXGP with Evans in MX2. It looks like they’ve thrown in the towel with regards to a factory MX2 team which is a real shame.

Next year will be Evans rookie season in MXGP and honestly it’s hard to know how he’ll perform. Yes, he will be fast but the top twenty-five are fast in MXGP when everyone is fully fit.

I hope for Evans sake he has a good season because one bad year and he could be in a similar scenario to Brian Bogers and if that happens he might regret not staying in MX2 before making the jump up to MXGP.