Image: Supplied.

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki has drafted in Mitchell Harrison and Darian Sanayei for the 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship after injuries struck team regulars Austin Forkner, Jordon Smith and Garrett Marchbanks in Monster Energy Supercross.

Set to open at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch next Saturday, 15 August, the Pro Motocross series will see Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki field Harrison and Sanayei alongside Cameron McAdoo.

“We are in a unique situation with Cameron McAdoo being our only healthy rider at the moment,” said team owner Mitch Payton. “We weren’t exactly sure when racing would resume, but we knew whenever that was, we needed to be ready so we had Darian and Mitchell tryout our KX250 and they both rose to the challenge.

“We have worked with both of them previously through the Kawasaki Team Green program. We’re familiar with who they are and how they ride, and it was an additional bonus that they have both been riding Kawasaki motorcycles for quite some time now. We are ready to get back to the races and to see the team back on the track.”

Both riders will be returning to their roots as they grew up riding for the Kawasaki Team Green racing team throughout their amateur careers. In their professional careers, both Harrison and Sanayei have competed in Europe in the MX2 class for Kawasaki-supported teams with Sanayei on the Dixon Kawasaki MX2 team and Harrison competing for the Bud Racing Kawasaki MX2 team.

After reaching the age limit in Europe, Sanayei returned home to the United States to contest in the 2020 Arenacross for the Babbitt’s Online Monster Energy Kawasaki team, as well as competing in the Monster Energy Supercross 250SX East class.

“Everybody knows that this is easily the best team in the paddock, just look at the wall of championship plates hanging on the door,” commented Sanayei. “This is a huge opportunity for me and I’m really looking forward to making the most of it. I’ve had the chance to ride the bike a couple of times now and all I can really say is, wow.

“I’ve been on a Kawasaki pretty much my entire pro career and this KX250 really has it all. I am usually a pretty good starter so with the power of this bike and the support of this team, I believe I can put myself in a good position to be battling up front.”

Due to the global pandemic, Harrison was forced to close the chapter on racing in Europe for now and looks forward to racing again back in the US: “Man, I cannot tell you how excited I am for this opportunity. Right away, I gelled with the bike and felt right at home on the KX250. Up until recently, I have been racing in Europe on a KX250 for Bud Racing for the past year or so and I also grew up racing for the Team Green amateur race team, so I have felt super comfortable from the get-go.

“This year has been unique for everyone in our sport, especially for myself since I’m from the US, but have been racing in Europe and have been dealing with all of the travel restrictions – that’s why it was a no brainer when this opportunity came up. I want to be here racing with the best of the best. I have podiumed at races in the past here and I believe with where I am at this stage in my career and with this bike I can be a threat each weekend.”