Slaw Dog
Silly season is wrapping up later than usual this year, because well…
Either way, things are starting to take shape for 2021. We have a Monster Energy Supercross schedule (!) and team announcements have started to fill in.
Here is what we KNOW and have heard for next year in regard to the 450 Class.
Honda HRC
Ken Roczen: Honda is locked for 2020 and beyond. Ken Roczen signed an extension in 2019 for another three years.
Chase Sexton: Sexton moved up to the 450 Class for Pro Motocross and is also locked in long-term at Honda. He signed a contract that takes him through the 2023 season.
Red Bull KTM
Cooper Webb: Webb will be at KTM for a while. He initially signed a two-year deal with the team that was supposed to end in 2020 but was extended for another two years.
Marvin Musquin: Marv will remain at KTM in 2021. He signed a two-year deal in 2019 that is up at the end of next year.
Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GasGas
Justin Barcia: The Spanish brand, which is now under the KTM umbrella, will be run by the Troy Lee Designs team. Earlier this week, the team announced it had signed Justin Barcia for two years. He moves over from Monster Energy Yamaha.
Monster Energy Kawasaki
Tomac: Tomac is on a “multi-year deal” that was signed before the 2019 Pro Motocross Championship. We’ve heard that the deal is up at the end of 2021, but it was never officially announced.
Adam Cianciarulo: AC was on a one-year deal this year but inked a new contract and will remain at Kawasaki for another two years.
Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha
Dylan Ferrandis: The two-time 250SX West Region Champion and recently crowned 250 Pro Motocross Champion, pointed out of the 250 Class in 2020, but remains at Yamaha under the Star Racing team, which took over the 450 efforts from Factory Yamaha.
Aaron Plessinger: Plessinger is signed through the 2021 season.
Malcolm Stewart: After two years with MotoConcepts Honda, Malcolm signed with Star Racing. For now, the deal is SX-only, but that could change.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna
Jason Anderson: In 2018, Anderson signed a four-year deal to remain at Husqvarna.
Zach Osborne: Osborne signed an extension with the team in 2019 that runs through the end of 2021.
Dean Wilson: Wilson is back for another year and will begin training at Bakers Factory, but not on a full program.
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM
Blake Baggett: Baggett signed a three-year deal in 2018 that runs through 2021.
A second rider has not been announced.
SmartTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts Honda
Justin Hill: The former 250SX West Region Champion returns for another year with the team. Hill signed with the team for 2020 after time with JGR Suzuki.
Vince Friese: Friese has spent the majority of his career with the team and is back for another year.
Benny Bloss: Bloss joins the team after on and off seasons with Rocky Mountain ATV/MC. He also spent time as a privateer.
Shane McElrath: McElrath, who spent his 250 career mostly with TLD KTM before joining Star Racing Yamaha, pointed out of the 250 Class in 2020 and will make his 450 debut with the team next year.
Penrite Honda
Justin Brayton: Brayton, whose won four Australian Supercross titles with the team, moves over after a year with Honda HRC.
Another rider is expected to be announced for the Australian-based team, but nothing is official at this time.
JGR/Yoshimura Suzuki
No announcements for JGR yet in regard to 2021. Rumors of a casino title sponsor have been around for a while, but nothing official has been announced. Joey Savatgy and Fredrik Noren rode for the team in 2020.
HEP Motorsports/Twisted Tea/Suzuki
Adam Enticknap: Rode for the team in 2020 but nothing official at this time.
Max Anstie: Rode for the team in 2020 but nothing official at this time.
A third rider has been rumored for the team, but nothing official has been announced.
Troy Dog: This is OFFICIAL. Lifetime contract for Troy Dog!
Team Tedder/Monster Energy/Lucas Oil/KTM Racing
Martin Davalos: Davalos returns to the team on a two-year deal. The long-time 250 rider moved up to the 450 Class with the team in 2020 and won Rookie of the Year after finishing 13th in points.
Dakota Tedder: Dakota, son of team owner Matt Tedder, is also back for the next two years. Dakota missed all of 2019 and 2020 due a wrist injury.
Others
Chad Reed: Chad Reed has been relatively quiet regarding his status for the 2021 season. This past season was supposed to mark the end of a legendary career for the two-time Monster Energy Supercross Champion, but due to no fans at the final rounds, Reed hinted that he may return for a final goodbye this upcoming season.
At this time, that is looking less and less likely, as Reed told MotoOnline.com that he wants to focus on being a “BMX dad” and doesn’t have interest in racing at this time.
Joey Savatgy: Savatgy spent last year with JGR Suzuki on a one-year deal. He had a tryout with MotoConcepts Honda, but they signed Benny Bloss and Shane McElrath. No word on his status for 2021.
Broc Tickle: Tickle returned from suspension in 2020 and rode as a fill-in for JGR Suzuki (supercross) and Monster Energy Yamaha (motocross). No word on his status for next year.
Justin Bogle: Rumors are Bogle could return to Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM, but nothing has been announced.
Main image: Honda HRC
