British MX2 champion Adam Sterry will replace Dylan Ferrandis in the factory Kawasaki MX2 team next year, lining up in the world championship alongside Petar Petrov and new signing, 17-year-old Frenchman Stephan Rubini.
With Ferrandis off to race Yamahas in America and Sterry’s old Wilvo KTM team folding, the Brit has been snapped up by the French-based Monster Energy Kawasaki MX2 team and will soon start testing the new 2017 KXF250. Also joining the team is former world champ Michael Maschio as team adviser and Sterry is set to stay with his own British trainer Richard-Mike Jones.
Sterry moved full-time to the MX2 world series this season, but was injured during the opening round in Qatar. He had regular top ten finished after his comeback, and was leading the Durtch GP at Assen until he crashed and the bike wouldn’t start.
Sterry said: “It’s special to join a factory team such as Kawasaki, and it will be my first time on green bikes. Every weekend I saw the results from the team, and when I got their offer I had no questions about the team and knew that it would be good. It’s a dream team, and that’s been a dream since I was a kid! To get this opportunity is really special; finally my hard work is paying off and I can’t wait to ride the Kawasaki.”
It will be Petrov’s third season with the team and his final crack at MX2 as he will turn 23 next year. Recently recovering from a shoulder injury, the Bulgarian said: “A few days ago I started doing some exercises and cycling. My goal is to be back riding and testing as soon as possible. But we all know that it normally takes three months to recover from a shoulder injury, so I will be really happy if I can start riding at the beginning of November.”
Team owner Jean Jacques Luisetti said: “I’m really pleased to welcome two young riders who have already shown their potential this season. Stephen was impressive in the 125 European series, and Adam got some strong results during his first GP season and also in UK where he claimed the title; I’m sure that with the experience of Petar we have a very strong and promising line-up.
“The team just moved to southern France in a brand new workshop, where I will be on site most of the time as I want to be regularly with my staff. I was working that way in my previous business and it was successful.”
Maschio said: “I came back to the sport this year alongside Stephen Rubini, and during the season we started talking with Jean Jacques about the future. I always had a great relationship with him, and I will soon start working part time for the team as sport manager for the riders. I will also help the team to develop the bikes, as I never stopped training and it’s great to be back in the Kawasaki family where I spent most of my career.”