Stephen Rubini secures ride for step up to MXGP in 2023
By Andrew Hill on 10th Aug 22
Stephen Rubini has secured a new contract that will see him move up to the MXGP class and extend his motocross career with team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz.
After an impressive season in EMX250 in 2019, where he ran runner-up to title winner Roan van de Moosdijk, Rubini showed a lot of promise in 2020, returning to MX2 with 10th place in the championship standings. But 2021 was challenging as injury (vertebra), inconsistent results and missing rounds dropped him well outside the top 15.
As he ages out this term, the Frenchman couldn't have picked a better time to peak in the MX2 class. A ninth place in the MX2 standings helped by top-five results and a career-first podium is almost guaranteed in his debut year with Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz. So understandably, he was keen to stay with the Honda team after a successful season. "I'm super happy to stay another year with them, as everything has gone well this season," said Rubini.
Although Rubini will compete in MXGP in 2023, that will not be his or the team's priority as they target a national championship. "The goal will be the [French] Elite championship, and depending on my results a maximum of Grand Prix," he added. "It's all up to me, I'm going to have to prove what I can do in 450 the first goal will be to discover the category, to learn the bike."
The French championship is particularly important for the team's partners, so with the recent clashes of dates between France and the FIM Motocross World Championship, the priority will be the Elite series.
Of course, GPs are on the program depending on calendars and Rubini's adjustment to his new category. The complete schedule of the team, which is also continuing its investment with Lars Van Berkel and Cyril Genot in beach races the first event on October 15-16 at Berck will be communicated in the coming weeks.
Rubini has already experienced racing the CRF450R and feels a good pre-season with Yves Demaria will get him comfortable with the premier class. "Switching to 450 is an important step in a career, and I wanted to do this in good conditions," said Rubini. "My goal was to continue to work with Yves because I was able to see that I was progressing a lot with him and evolving in a structure allowing me to make this move [up] well. It was, therefore, important to know where I was putting my boots, and the Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz team was, for me, the ideal structure for that.
"My first race on a 450 during the final round of the French Elite at Basly went well, I enjoyed myself and I learned a lot during this weekend and with a lot of winter work I am convinced that we will be able to do great things."
Team manager Josse Sallefranque: "I'm glad to continue working with Stephen, with whom we had a great season, slightly exceeding our initial goals with him since he is well established in the top 10 of MX2, with some great races, including a podium at Maggiora.
"The goal next year is to compete for the Elite MX1 title, and to have an adapted program in MXGP where the level is very high; we see a lot of young riders embarking on the world championship without necessarily being successful. With Yves and Stephen, we preferred to go step by step, and develop this program according to its progress and its results."
More like this…
Lotte van Drunen joins F&H Kawasaki for WMX
For the first time in its young history, the F&H Kawasaki Racing Team are to include a female athlete in the team line-up, with Lotte van Drunen joining the Dutch squad on a three-year deal as they venture into the WMX series.
Seewer celebrates third Grand Prix victory as Coldenhoff ensures double podium for Yamaha in Sweden
The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team celebrated its fifth double podium of 2022 at the 15th round of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Uddevalla, Sweden.
2022 Junior Motocross World Championship rider entry
These are the pre-entry lists for the 2022 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship which takes place on August 26-28 at the Lavanko track in Finland, in the famous motocross city of Vantaa.