The new Rob Hooper Racing line up will be making their full team debut at the Hawkstone International on the 11th February with a fresh look. The Official Yamaha UK Motocross team will be head to toe in FOX racewear as the brand makes the RHR team their official UK team for 2018.
Team boss Rob Hooper was delighted to have such a high profile brand on board saying “Rider safety for us as a team is paramount, and when it comes to innovating in this area you cannot get any better than FOX. We can head into the season knowing that our riders have the best possible protection for the job, and that makes a huge difference to the rider’s confidence, and to my peace of mind. It is a partnership we are really looking forward to working on in 2018 and we are excited to be wearing the famous FOX head emblem. As a pro race team you also have to look the part, and when it comes to FOX you know that we will have the best combination of style and protection there is.”
The three racer squad of Kristian Whatley, Ryan Houghton (MX1) and Robbie Dowson (MX2) will head to the famous Shropshire venue to pit their wits against a star studded field featuring a worldwide cast of stars including World number 2 Jeffrey Herlings, MX of Nations winner Gautier Paulin and British hero Max Anstie.
2013 British Motocross Champion Whatley is coming back from a season ending injury in 2017 and is enjoying his time back on a Yamaha “I feel so comfortable being back on a Yamaha. I had really successful time when I was last on the YZF, so the season can’t come any faster for me. The Hawkstone International is massive, but as a racer you always want to race against the best riders in the World and it’s a get way to gauge your winter training, where you are and what you need to improve on”.
Houghton is no stranger to racing the fastest racers in the World having took part in the European rounds of MXGP in 2017, “For me there is no better start to the season than to compete at Hawkstone. You are only going to improve by riding against the best, and let’s face it every Motocrosser wants to ride at Hawkstone and against the big names. We all work hard during the Winter months and when it comes to the gate drop at Hawkstone we will all find out who has worked the hardest”.
For the youngest member of the squad Robbie Dowson, Hawkstone will be the start of what will be the biggest season of his career, “I am so looking forward to lining up at Hawkstone, for me to have the chance to race at such a famous venue against the big names is massive and I will be going there to get right in amongst it and set myself up for the long season ahead”.
Hooper is not putting any pressure on the team of 2018 at the opener “This event is not all about win or bust, this is about warming up, putting on a good show and learning lots about set up’s in a race environment ready for the start of the season. Winter training is all good but it doesn’t replicate race condition’s so Hawkstone gives us the opportunity to improve our set up and iron out any issues before our Championships start. That being said a good result here is always a great confidence boost before we head into our domestic campaign.”