Coming to Europe two years ago after a successful amateur career with Kawasaki in the USA, the twenty-one-year-old immediately found success in the European championship when he finished runner-up in the 2016 series. Moving up to the MX2 class with the Dixon Racing Team last year, he faced a learning season on many new tracks but confirmed his great potential earlier this season when he scored his first-ever GP moto podiums in Argentina and Spain. Missing his first ever overall podium in Spain by just a single point Darian had high expectations for the remainder of the season but a crash in practice at the opening round of the British championship series in which he damaged knee ligaments forced him to sit out several GPs. After attempting a return to action at the British GP it was clear that he needed to undergo surgery and, while recovering in his native USA, Darian has extended his contract with Kawasaki Europe and the DRT squad of Steve Dixon.

Darian Sanayei: “I’m really happy to be racing with DRT again next year. It feels good to continue our relationship and put our best efforts forward to accomplish an MX2 World Championship! My recovery with my knee is going really good and we are right on track. I should be able to start training on the bike around November/ December time, and that should be enough time to put in the work necessary for a good base to have a great season! I want to thank the entire team and the Kawasaki family for everything they are doing for me so we can achieve excellent results together.”

Steve Dixon (DRT team owner): “I’m delighted Darian has taken his third year option to stay with the Bike It DRT Kawasaki team. Darian, Kawasaki Europe, the team and the sponsors have unfinished business in the quest for world championship honours. Darian showed great speed before his ACL injury and it made perfect sense to sit down with Kawasaki and Darian to discuss the future and part of that plan was to take the best steps to fix the knee in readiness for a good campaign in 2019, I have to thank Kawasaki Europe for being instrumental in the long term plan. Darian has been a long-term loyal member of Team Green in the USA and then followed the Kawasaki path in Europe, first with Bud Racing in EMX2 and then with us since 2017; that loyalty goes a long way in these situations and I am looking forward to seeing Darian back on the Bike It DRT Kawasaki next season.”