Jake Nicholls and Kiwi Josiah Natzke have joined the Buildbase Honda squad to contest the 2018 Maxxis British Motocross Championship as reigning champion Graeme Irwin moves to KTM for a crack at MXGP.

Nicholls will race a CRF450R for the squad run by three-time 500cc world motocross champion Dave Thorpe while Natzke will run in MX2. The New Zealander finished sixth in the MX2 championship in 2017, as well as winning the European Motocross 250 round in Latvia. He will go equipped with the new Honda CRF250R, featuring a new and more powerful twin cam engine.

“I’m delighted to sign for the Buildbase Honda Racing team,” said Nicholls. “I decided in the summer to focus on racing in the UK, and when Dave approached me to ride the CRF450R it seemed like the perfect match. We know that the package is already at a very high level and I can’t wait to get testing ahead of the new season,” said Nicholls.

“I’ve just flown in from New Zealand, and am looking forward to testing the 2018 CRF250R,” said Natzke. “I’ve had a quick ride out on the 2017 model back home and it felt really natural, so I’m looking forward to testing the improved 2018 bike.

“Riding for Honda, and the set-up of Dave’s team is something that’s very appealing to me. I felt that I should have been closer to the championship this season, but Honda are giving me the support and tools needed to go for the title in 2018. We’re off testing right after the show and we’ll also be competing in the Arenacross series in January and February, so we should be in good shape for the start of the season.”