Briton Eddie Jay Wade and Spaniard Guillem Farres will join Mario Lucas at the KTM factory supported 4E Racing KTM squad. Former EMX250 runner-up Damon Graulus will support the riders in all aspects of their preparation.
Eddie Jay Wade is a 15-year old talent who now lives near Almeria in Spain. Pefectly bilingual, Eddie races under the British flag and already captured the 85cc junior world title last year in Estonia. Although Eddie experienced a rollercoaster 2018 season in the EMX125 class he showed his competitiveness at the Teutschenthal round where he finished 3rd in race one. Keep an eye on ‘Sports Billy’ because there’s definitely much more to come!
For the upcoming season Spanish 125cc champion Mario Lucas will make his debut in the EMX250 class. The KTM-mounted teenager scored his first EMX podium earlier this year in Valkenswaard and is keen to keep the momentum up after a promising first season of international racing. Lucas actually made an impressive 250 debut at Barcelona Supercross in November where he finished third in MX2.
Guillem Farres just completed his first season on the 125cc bike, rounding out the Spanish domestic series second behind Lucas but finishing ahead of his new team mate Eddie Wade! The protégé of Dakar legend Nani Roma has been improving steadily in his rookie 125cc year. With more racing under his belt and with the guidance of the F4E Racing KTM team Farres is determined to make a name for himself in the EMX125 series next year. All three riders will combine the EMX rounds with the Spanish championship and selected Dutch and German races.
Complementing the new-look F4E Racing KTM line-up Eddie, Mario and Guillem will be decked out in striking Kini-Red Bull gear. The signature of the experienced Damon Graulus as a trainer for F4E Racing’s young guns underlines the team’s aim to support young EMX talents in every aspect of their journey. Graulus career tally includes national MX2 titles in France, Holland and Belgium. Considered an example in his physical preparation Damon will continue to race locally himself. The 24-year old Belgian will focus on the Dutch and Belgian Masters of Motocross races.
F4E Racing KTM’s exciting line-up is completed with a rostrum of young and hungry support riders from different levels and ages. Damon Goyvaerts will concentrate on the EMX2t series while Junior riders Baudoin Detout and Domitie Dehent are cutting their teeth in the popular French beach race championship. Domitie actually leads the girls class in provisional standings. Troy Verburgh and Baptiste Beernaert will line up in EMX85 and race selected German and Dutch events. Travis Verburgh and Louis Beernaert will defend the F4E Racing colours in Belgium with some additional races in Germany and Holland added to their programme. Victor Quiniou caps off the team’s Europe-wide pesence with his participation in the French 125 championship.
For its 2019 campaign F4E Racing KTM can count on the continued support of Purdey Capital and many other loyal partners.
Jimmy Verburgh, team principal: “We had a very positive first ever season of racing with two EMX podium finishes and a national title. However we’re always looking for our long term development as a team. It’s very encouraging to have partners like KTM, Purdey Capital, Kini-Red Bull and so many others who believe in this project. For 2019 we’ve made a lot of improvements, big and small to strengthen our structure. One of them is of course the addition of a professional trainer, Damon Graulus to our staff. To go racing with Eddie, Mario and Guillem is super exciting. We can not wait for the season to start!”
Pics: MX shoot