British rider Jamie Keith is gearing up for his first full season in the EMX125 championship after signing with the JK Yamaha team. The young talent has put in a productive offseason, training hard in Spain and Italy, and is feeling confident ahead of the opening round at Cozar. Despite a setback at Hawkstone International, Keith remains determined to make his mark in the highly competitive EMX125 series.
“It’s a big help to be on the JKYamaha team as it’s a good base to work from and gets your name out there into the MXGP paddock,” Keith told GateDrop.com. “It has been going good with the team, I have been to Italy a few times making sure everything is good and ready for Cozar”.
Keith has spent the winter training with his coach, Ash Wilde, and believes it has been his most productive offseason yet. The time spent abroad has been crucial for developing his hardpack riding skills, something he sees as essential for the European circuits.
“I had a good offseason training with Ash Wilde, my coach in Spain, and it was probably the most productive offseason I have had. It is good to get over to Spain and Italy to ride with the UK weather being as it is. It helps for hardpack training, which is what I need, but also the UK weather can be good as it can be sometimes very tough in the wet.”
Keith’s preseason races have provided a valuable learning experience, but they haven’t been without challenges. His debut at the International Italian Championship wasn’t easy after a big crash at Hawkstone International, but he showed progress by the second race.
“I struggled with the first race at the International Italian Championship as I had never been to the track before and couldn’t really find a flow, but the second race was a bit more where I want to be.”
Unfortunately, a crash at Hawkstone International resulted in an injury setback, but Keith has recovered in time for the start of the season.
“At Hawkstone International, I had a pretty nasty off which resulted in me fracturing a few vertebrae in my back, which wasn’t good. But I have done what I needed to do, and we are going to Cozar 100%.”
Looking ahead to his EMX125 debut, Keith is eager to test himself against stronger competition and is aiming for steady progress throughout the season.
“I am really excited to be racing with faster boys and in an overall bigger event. I am just going to keep my head on and do what I do. I feel good on the bike heading into Cozar. I have been doing a lot of motos to get my fitness and stamina a bit better, and I am feeling better and better each time I ride.”
With a focused mindset, Keith has set realistic goals for the opening rounds but hopes to climb the rankings as the season progresses.
“For the first round of the EMX125 series, I’m going in with an open and positive mindset. I will be wanting to be in the top ten, after that it’s time to go to work and keep chipping away to get further up the championship ladder. Hopefully, I can be inside the top five consistently each weekend within the next couple of rounds.”
With a strong team behind him and a solid preparation period, Jamie Keith is ready to take on the challenge of the EMX125 championship in 2025.
