EMX250 Champ Nick Kouwenberg to Race American Supercross

EMX250 Champion Nick Kouwenberg to Monster Energy Supercross

Honda Jtech European 250 Motocross Champion, Nick Kouwenberg, has set his course west to participate in the 2016 season of the AMA Supercross 250SX West championship.

American Honda is supporting the Dutchman as he prepares to race eight rounds of 250SX West, which occurs just before the European motocross season starts in Valkenswaard, Netherlands, at the end of March.

The 24-year-old Kouwenberg, who already has the pressure of defending his European title with Jtech, is eager to take on the American circuit, where styles and attitudes are dramatically different from what he’s accustomed to.

Kouwenberg isn’t shaken; he’s more than a veteran of Supercross, after claiming the European Supercross Lites title at EICMA this year. For many European riders, getting seat time aboard the CRF250R is but a dream and something Nick is now relishing in.

As part of the AMA Supercross series, the 250SX West championship pits 250cc riders against each other in major Western U.S. locations in a series of heats and a last-chance qualifier before the 15-lap feature race at each event.

As part of the AMA Supercross series, the 250SX West Region championship pits 250cc riders against each other in major Western U.S. locations in a series of grueling heats and a last-chance qualifier before the 15-lap feature race at each event. Needless to say, he’s going to be busy.

Nick Kouwenberg says: “I have been in America for a week already and I still don’t believe it is really going to happen. Things have been going really fast the past two weeks and I’ve been dreaming about this for so long, just to be racing in California is incredible! I am really thankful to Honda Motor Europe for helping to set this all up for me and they have been so supportive. I’m also really lucky to have Honda America supporting me as well so massive thanks to them and the BWR team.

“The first few days training I’ve been super safe because I don’t want to risk missing Anaheim 1! I’m just trying to build it step by step. For sure, racing in Supercross is going to help me prepare for defending my EMX250 title. The level here is bigger than anything: staying here for all the races alone, fighting every week with a way more packed field than Europe. It will be easier when I get back home, back with my parents, girlfriend, friends and my team who I took the title with. I’m really, really excited to be here, but it’s going to be way tougher than I, or anybody else, expects I think. I know when I get back home I will respect everything I have way more again.”

Davy Dousselaere, Honda Motor Europe Off-Road Manager issued a statement in full support of Nick as well: “I am very pleased that the BWR team, along with American Honda, can support our European 250 Champion Nick Kouwenberg in riding in the American 250SX West Region championship. We have seen this year how strong and consistent Nick is as a rider and I am interested to see how he will find racing in American supercross. It will be exciting for sure!”

2016 Monster Energy Supercross 250SX West Schedule: