Portuguese rider Hugo Basaula has been drafted in to the official Kawasaki team to replace Tommy Searle for the UK Arenacross series that starts in Manchester on Saturday. Basaula, a former MX3 world championship rider, has represented Portugal many times in the Motocross of Nations and now races lots of European supercross races.

Searle is out after hurting his knee in pre-season testing in California. He has had surgery and is trying to get fit for the MXGP season that starts at the end of next month.