Brian Bogers teams up with Tim Gajser
By Alex Hodgkinson on 23rd Aug 17
Tim Gajsers new sidekick at HRC in 2018 will be Brian Bogers!
The MXGP paddock has been left scratching its head as to the identity of the replacement for Evgeny Bobryshev since the Russian was advised his services would no longer be required next year and it was known that the HRC newcomer would be upgrading from MX2 - but nobody had the 20-year-old Dutch rider on the radar.
Key to the deal is HSF Logistics, the high-profile Dutch team which has been KTM's MX2 factory support team for the last two seasons.
When asked about team plans for next year HSF's Simon Fredericks was elusive.
"I cannot give any details," he said, "but the deal is settled and an announcement will be made in about two weeks time."
It is known that the highly-professional unit wish to clarify their divorce from KTM where there is still a year of their existing contract to run.
Admitting that he already had wind of the move, Factory KTM team manager Dirk Gruebel said that "nothing in this sport surprises me anymore!".
It is believed that the HRC-HSF connection will involve the Dutch transport firm stepping in as title sponsor of Big Red's MXGP operation and their MX2 activities will be closed.
It seems possible that Calvin Vlaanderen, with a year of his current contract still to run, may be integrated as third rider at HRC while Davy Pootjes rode for HSF this year on loan from KTM.
Honda Europe expect to support no less than five teams next year with a strong emphasis on MX2 and EMX250 to promote the new CRF250. There will be no factory HRC effort in MX2 but Team Gariboldi will run a two-rider team, probably with Bas Vaessen and Jed Beaton.
