Bike ace bound for England

FLAG BEARER: National MX2 champion Kayne Lamont, of Mangakino, has signed to race in Britain next year. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Mangakino motocross rider Kayne Lamont will wave the flag overseas next year after signing with Wiltshire-based MX Zone Turvey Construction Yamaha.

The current national MX2 champion will help form a new four-rider team to contest the British Motocross Championships as well as two other high-profile series, and selected World Championship Grand Prix events.

Lamont's teammates will be British riders Liam Garland, Keiran Banks and Camlann Macdonald and the team will be managed by renowned engine tuner Matt Greenland.

The 21-year-old BikesportNZ.com-supported Kiwi star will race a Yamaha YZ250F in the MX2 class for the new team.

"It's been three years since I've raced in England and didn't have the best time when I was there in 2011," said Lamont.

"I was battling injury - a cracked shoulder blade - the whole time I was there. The last races I did over there were my best ones and I managed to finish inside the top six. I am a lot more experienced now, so I'm hoping the results should be even better.

"I guess you could say I have some unfinished business in England.

"I will be up against a couple of GP boys in the British Champs, riders such as (Bulgarian) Petar Petrov are entered, so they will be extremely fast, but I'm aiming to finish among the top five and even get some wins.

"I am still working on building up my strength at the moment after my recent injury and I'm feeling pretty good, but there is always room for improvement."

Team manager Greenland said he was looking forward to Lamont joining the team and to working alongside Yamaha.

"Yamaha has a strong bike in both the engine and chassis department, which is a great starting block for our race bike. I have worked with all three MX2 riders before and I know with hard work from us all we can have a great year," said Greenland.

Lamont will fly out to England after the final round of the 2015 New Zealand Motocross Championships in March. When he returns he will slot into the Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing Team in New Zealand.