James Decotis To Join Motocross Grand Prix Series
Cycle News Staff | April 4, 2013
Jimmy Decotis has been chosen to fill in for the CLS MX2 Kawasaki Monster Energy Pro Circuit Team for the remainder of the 2013 FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship Series. The 21-year-old rider from Peabody, Massachusetts, will take over for the injured Arnaud Tonus.
Decotis is currently 10th in the AMA 250 East Supercross Series points standings and recently matched his season high placing with a seventh-place finish at the Toronto Supercross, riding a High Octane-backed privateer Honda.
CLS team owner Jean-Jacques Luisetti said, “We had been so confident of further success this year and the injuries to Arnaud Tonus have been a terrible blow to both the rider and the team after our winter of preparation. At the moment, we simply cannot say how long it will be before Arnaud receives the green light to race again; he has been back for further examination and the medical advice is that he should rest for 15 days before he even tries to ride again and he may not race until he feels no pain whatsoever. It is impossible to predict a date for Arnaud’s return to racing so we had to respect our commitment to all of our sponsors; they have a right to expect results and CLS has a long record of delivering success.
“In fact it was Mitch Payton of Pro Circuit and Mitch Covington of Monster Energy who put us in contact with James Decotis; I have only spoken to James on the phone so far, but I was immediately very impressed by his seriousness and professional attitude which confirmed the belief shown in him by Pro Circuit and Monster Energy.
“Jimmy is actually flying to Europe and we will soon begin testing and training together; he will be at the start of the GP of Italy in 10 days racing with the number 613, and we confidently expect him to put the KX250F back on the podium. Our contract with James is for the remainder of the 2013 GP season and, when Arnaud is ready to return to racing, we will enter three riders in the series together with Alessandro Lupino. If all goes to expectations, James will also have the opportunity to stay with CLS in 2014.”
Kawasaki Motors Europe Race Planning Manager, Steve Guttridge, welcomed the signing. “This is a typically pro-active move by Team CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy Pro Circuit and reflects the global nature of their influence. Jimmy Decotis is widely recognised as a bright young talent; his involvement is sure to be a great addition to the team.”
