Justin Barcia and AutoTrader.com/Toyota/JGR Yamaha have agreed to an extension through the 2018 season, the team announced today. This deal stamps the commitment of Joe Gibbs Racing to this sport for the long-term. There are rumors flying about a possible return of Team Yamaha as a factory 450 effort, but JGR clearly plans to remain a top-tier 450 race team in its own right.
Last off-season, Barcia signed with the team after spending his entire career with Honda (GEICO and Honda HRC). Following an up and down Monster Energy Supercross season in which he missed eight rounds due to injury and didn’t record a podium finish, Barcia turned his season around in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross, securing two overall wins. Since Budds Creek, Barcia has averaged a 2.7 moto finish. In addition, Barcia and the team seem to be a great fit, personality-wise, as he spends a lot of his time working in the team's shop and test track in North Carolina, and training alongside his JGR mechanic Ben Shiermeyer.
Barcia finished third overall in 450MX, tying a career-high, and was also selected to represent Team USA at the 2015 Motocross of Nations in Ernee, France.
“We feel like Justin is a great addition to our racing family, and even though he was under contract through 2016 we wanted to extend his agreement with us long-term,” said team owner Coy Gibbs.
“I really like the guys on the team and the overall atmosphere here, now I don’t have to think about anything but riding and training for a long time. We all get along great and I’m pumped,” said Barcia.
Below is the official press release from the team.
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – JGRMX is proud to announce that an agreement has been signed extending Justin Barcia’s tenure with the team through the 2018 racing season.
Barcia and the team have been working extremely well together with six consecutive podium finishes and two wins during the second half of the 2015 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Series. In addition, Barcia was selected as one of three riders to represent the U.S.A. at the 2015 Motocross of Nations in Ernee, France on Sept. 26 and 27. “We feel like Justin is a great addition to our racing family, and even though he was under contract through 2016 we wanted to extend his agreement with us long-term,” said Coy Gibbs, the team owner.
“I really like the guys on the team and the overall atmosphere here, now I don’t have to think about anything but riding and training for a long time. We all get along great and I’m pumped,” said Barcia.
