Trickett leaves Yamaha for Honda

Lewis Trickett is to leave Yamaha and join Buildbase Honda in the British championship next season, joining Kristian Whatley in the new-look squad. The 20-year-old Trickett will contest the MX2 class whilst Whatley continues in MX1. Bournemouth-based Trickett is currently seventh in the MX2 class, riding for the MBO Yamaha team. He is the first 250 rider to be announced for the Buildbase squad, run by triple world 500 champ Dave Thorpe.

Trickett said: "Joining Buildbase Honda is an amazing opportunity for me. There is no doubt in my mind that the team is one of the best in the paddock and having a guy who himself has won at the highest level as my team boss has got to be a big advantage. I hope I can make the most of this chance and show David and the rest of the squad what I am really capable of next season."

Thorpe said. "Adding the MX2 class to our line up ready for next season represents a great new challenge for us as a team and one that we are really looking forward to. Lewis is an exciting prospect for us and I am sure that we can give him a bike that will exploit the natural talent that he undoubtedly has and by working together we can help him continue to make his way up the ladder in the highly competitive MX2 class.

"We have already started testing with the 2016 CRF250R, and I have to say that we have been very impressed with the new engine in the latest model. The engine is very strong and good throughout its power range."