With Silly Season in full swing, Yamaha has announced that it has secured the services of veteran motocross racer Davi Millsaps to join Cooper Webb on the factory Yamaha team for the 2018 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series and the 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
This marks the second time with Yamaha for Millsaps, who has had factory rides with every brand except Husqvarna. Millsaps began his pro career with Makita Suzuki back in 2004 before joining the factory Honda team where he campaigned from 2006-2010. Millsaps then rode for the Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGR Yamaha team alongside James Stewart in 2011 and 2012. After a stint with the Rockstar Energy Suzuki team for 2013 and most of 2014 before joining the Monster Energy Kawasaki factory team and winning the Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas in late 2014. Millsaps was prematurely released by the team in 2015, which precipitated his signing with the BTO Sports KTM team. He replaces two-time AMA Supercross Champion Chad Reed at Yamaha. Millsaps will make his debut for Yamaha at the 2017 Monster Energy Cup.
Here is the official announcement from Yamaha:
Cypress, CA – October 3, 2017–Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., today announced its 2018 Factory Supercross/Motocross team, featuring riders Cooper Webb and new teammate Davi Millsaps.
Millsaps will make his first public debut with the team aboard his #18 2018 YZ450F at the Monster Energy Cup on Saturday, October 14 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Millsaps will go for the $1 million awarded to the racer who wins all three 10-Lap Main Events.
Keith McCarty, Motorsports Racing Division Manager for Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., said, “We’re excited to welcome Davi to our Yamaha Factory Team. He’s had a great career so far, and he’s been a terrific ambassador for our sport. Davi has been testing his 2018 YZ450F, and he is looking forward to competing aboard the brand-new bike at the upcoming Monster Energy Cup.”
The 2014 Monster Energy Cup winner, Millsaps was also the Monster Energy 450SX Championship runner-up in 2012 and 2013, and he has notched five career 450SX wins, and 35 450SX podiums. He was also 2006 250SX East Champion and 2016 Canadian National Motocross Champion. The Orlando, Florida, native currently resides in Lake Havasu, Arizona, with his wife Brittney and their two children.
“First of all, I’m super-excited to be racing for the Yamaha Factory team,” Millsaps said. “And, to be making my Yamaha debut aboard the 2018 YZ450F is going to be awesome. I’ve been doing a lot of testing on the new bike, and it’s coming along great. I couldn’t be happier. I’m training hard for the Monster Energy Cup, and I’ll definitely be ready on October 14th. And, how cool is it that I’ll be running my signature #18 on the ’18 Yamaha in 2018? Can’t wait!”
While Millsaps will race, Cooper Webb will also be in attendance at the Monster Energy Cup to cheer him on, help the team notch the win, and, along with Millsaps, sign autographs for the fans.
As was previously announced, Webb will not compete in the event due to the surgery he had last week on his right thumb, which he injured in practice at the Monster Energy MXGP of the USA in Jacksonville, Florida, earlier this month. Webb will be ready for the start of the 2018 Monster Energy Supercross season, which begins in early January.
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