EMX250 champion Thomas Kjer Olsen signs with Husqvarna Motorcycles
By Team TMX on 3rd Sep 16
Husqvarna Motorcycles are pleased to announce the signing of 19-year-old Thomas Kjer Olsen - an agreement that will see the recently crowned EMX250 European Motocross Champion strengthen the efforts of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team throughout the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Olsen will enter the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship racing alongside team riders Thomas Covington and Conrad Mewse.
The Husqvarna FC 250 mounted rider from Denmark completed a nearly perfect season in the EMX250 class of the European Motocross Championship, collecting three overall victories and never finishing off the podium in any of the races he competed in.
Clinching the 2016 EMX250 title with one round to go, Olsen then stepped up to the MX2 class of the FIM Motocross World Championship securing phenomenal results from the get go. Claiming eighth overall during his debut MX2 class GP in Switzerland, he then finished fifth overall in Assen last week missing the podium by just one point.
Despite his young age Olsen, detected and currently supported by Bodo Schmidt Motorsport, is also successfully mixing it up with the big boys in the MX1 class of the ADAC MX Masters series in Germany. Racing a Husqvarna FC 350 in the championship, the Danish star is just four points behind the provisional series leader with one round to go.
A welcome addition to Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, Thomas Kjer Olsen will join Thomas Covington and Conrad Mewse in a highly promising three-man MX2 team managed by former FIM 500cc Motocross World Champion Jacky Martens.
Robert Jonas - Vice President Husqvarna Motorsport: "We are very pleased to have Thomas Kjer Olsen join our MX2 team for the next two years. It's part of our philosophy to invest in exciting, up-and-coming talent and we strongly believe Thomas has a lot to give to our team. Along with being one of the revelations of the European Motocross Championship this year, he's also shown he can be among the frontrunners in the ultra-competitive MX2 class. We strongly believe Thomas is a star on the rise and we are certain our team will provide everything he needs to show his true potential in the World Championship.”
Jacky Martens - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team manager: "I'm looking forward to working with Thomas for the next two years. Thomas is a young rider who has already shown his potential in MX2. Our goal is to help him progress so that he can quickly become a podium contender in this highly competitive class. With Thomas Covington and Conrad Mewse also on board, we're excited to have three young but exceptionally promising riders for the coming season. With such a strong line-up of riders, we are confident we can continue battling for top honours in MX2.”
Thomas Kjer Olsen: "I can't thank Husqvarna enough for giving me this incredible opportunity to join their official MX2 team. It's been a great year for me and I can't wait to enter my first full season in MX2 as part of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team in 2017. MX2 is the future of motocross for young riders like myself and it's always where I wanted to be. Working with such a strong team means I'll have the best support and equipment to reach the top. My goal is to continue working hard to improve my results and get closer to the top in MX2.”
