Kay Karssemakers is currently contesting his second season racing the MX2 World Championship. In 2022, the Dutch talent signed with Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee in what was his rookie season in the class. However, after that the team unexpectedly closed their doors ahead of the 2023 season. It meant that Karssemakers then had to be content racing the EMX250 championship again.
The 2023 season was a strong one as Karssemakers finished second in the championship under the BT Husqvarna awning. After a positive season it meant he got another opportunity to race the MX2 World Championship this year again under the Factory Fantic awning.
However, it is thought that Fantic face as uncertain future in the MX2 World Championship and as a result Karssemakers has been on the look out for another ride in the paddock. As we’ve previously reported, the Riley Racing team are expected to make return to the paddock in 2025 and we understand that Karssemakers has agreed a deal with the team ahead of the upcoming season.
Harry Nolte and Jean-Jacques Luisetti are expected to be involved with the Riley Racing project and we have also recently reported that Tom Guyon is expected to ink a deal with the team.
If everything goes to plan then Guyon and Karssemakers should be under the Riley Kawasaki awning in 2025 to contest the MX2 World Championship campaign. Ivano van Erp was linked to the team as well but we believe Karssemakers has got the nod instead.
The move to Riley Kawasaki for Karssemakers will be all new as he’ll have to adapt to the Japanese brand but he’ll be hoping the move is exactly what he needs to unlock his full potential racing the MX2 World Championship.
We’ll bring you more news as and when we hear more.
