Rumour: Cervellin and Notsuka to sign for Honda in MX2?

A lot of speculation has surrounded HRC Honda’s MX2 effort after Gariboldi Honda took over as the official MXGP Honda effort. It is thought that Mr Martin’s team who ran Bobryshev and Paulin in MXGP this year will switch their focus to the MX2 World Championship for 2017.

Michele Cervellin is expected to join up with the team after he put in some impressive rides throughout 2016 on his Martin Technology Honda.

There have been rumours that Julien Lieber who missed the entire 2016 season throughout injury would also join the team but these appear to be untrue.

Instead, the latest rumours suggest that Japanese rider, Chihiro Notsuka will join up with the team for his rookie year in the MX2 World Championship. This is quite a surprising move as Honda decided to let go of two talented riders in the form of Jorge Zaragoza and David Herbreteau for the season ahead.

HRC Honda are heavily involved and have improved the 450 machine in the MXGP class and clearly want a Japanese rider involved in the set up for all their efforts. They have found a space for Kei Yamamoto the past two seasons at Assomotor Honda and it now seems that Notsuka will ride the MX2 World Championship alongside Cervellin.

Notsuka actually rode the Switzerland round of the MX2 World Championship this year just missing out on points finishing the moto’s in twenty-first and thirty-third.

Cervellin given the right equipment could put in some very strong results but if he were to get injured you would have to worry about the results. Aside from Gajser, Honda haven’t had a tonne of success in the MX2 class since Marvin Musquin rode a Honda! Hopefully they build a good bike for Cervellin similar to what Gajser had when he delivered a world title for them. Unfortunately Zaragoza or Herbreteau didn’t get the same support which was disappointing as they have talent.