ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING TEAM TARGETS 2024 SMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SUCCESS
MALCOLM STEWART, CHRISTIAN CRAIG, RJ HAMPSHIRE, GUILLEM FARRES AND CASEY COCHRAN FORM ROSTER
An expanded five-rider Rockstar Vitality Husqvarna Manufacturing unit Racing Group will take centerstage when the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) season commences with the AMA Supercross Championship season-opener at Anaheim on Saturday, January 6, led by 450SX duo Malcolm Stewart and Christian Craig, alongside 250SX contenders RJ Hampshire, Guillem Farres and Casey Cochran.
The Nathan Ramsey-managed official Husqvarna Bikes U.S. crew can be outfitted with the Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Version and the Husqvarna FC 250 Rockstar Version, forming a powerful basis for all 5 riders to construct upon because the gates drop on what’s a extremely anticipated new season.
Along with the on-track motion, Rockstar Vitality Drink has renewed its dedication as title sponsor of the Rockstar Vitality Husqvarna Manufacturing unit Racing Group in a multi-year dedication, which can span the whole 31-race SMX sequence. The crew will contest 17 rounds of AMA Supercross, 11 rounds within the AMA Professional Motocross Championship, and a three-round, post-season SMX Finals sequence.
“We’re extremely excited to increase our partnership with Husqvarna Bikes. Over the previous 10 years, the connection with the Rockstar Vitality Husqvarna Manufacturing unit Racing Group has been greater than only a sponsorship and we’re trying ahead to persevering with to develop collectively, stated Jennifer Kalban, Senior Motorsports Advertising Supervisor, PepsiCo North America. “The crew is as robust because it’s ever been and the 2024 season needs to be an thrilling one.”
Every step of that journey can be documented in Season 3 of the Grit and Grind docuseries, which can proceed to be broadcast on the Husqvarna Bikes YouTube channel in 2024. A collaboration between Rockstar Vitality and Husqvarna Bikes, it is going to as soon as once more present an all-access perception into the season of Stewart, Craig, Hampshire, Farres, and Cochran.
Rockstar Vitality Husqvarna Manufacturing unit Racing Group Supervisor, Nathan Ramsey, is assured that every one 5 riders can be aggressive throughout subsequent 12 months’s SMX sequence, decided to iron out any kinks which have confirmed expensive prior to now and to make sure that all riders can constantly ship robust ends in 2024.
“2024 is trying good for us, the fellows are having a very good low season, and we’re working laborious to be prepared for the season,” defined Ramsey. “I feel that finally, we’re going to return out swinging and keep away from the most important ups and downs and journey it out as regular as doable and put our Rockstar Vitality Husqvarna crew riders up entrance. We now have regarded quite a bit at issues which have value us or presumably pushed us out of championship hopes prior to now, and I feel we now have highlighted a couple of of these areas and we’re all – the crew, the crew, the riders, everybody – dedicated to correcting these areas and hopefully it really works and pays off, as a result of if they’re corrected, I feel we’re within the hunt, for positive.”
Making a welcome return to Rockstar Vitality Husqvarna Manufacturing unit Racing can be Stewart, the 31-year-old who was sadly sidelined within the early phases of final season and is in line to select up the place he left off virtually 12 months in the past. The fan favourite completed a career-high third within the 450SX standings in 2022, now excited to get again behind the gates in a bid to rebuild his kind in a aggressive setting.
“The main target for 2024 is actually simply to get again on the market and get my ft moist once more,” stated Stewart. “2023 was a fairly short-lived 12 months for me, it was type of extra for me to get again going and to complete what I began final 12 months. I used to be trying actually good, A1 was going very effectively, we had one little incident and we gained a warmth race, so we had some large flashes, nevertheless it simply ended too shortly. That is a part of racing and issues occur, however I’ve had a very good restoration thus far, and coaching has been going effectively this low season with an excellent group of men that I’m surrounded with. Everybody has been optimistic by way of the entire restoration and I’m glad I locked myself in for an additional two extra years! I actually need to win subsequent 12 months and I’m trying ahead to getting again into the bunch with the crew for the upcoming season.”
Getting into his second 12 months with Rockstar Vitality Husqvarna Manufacturing unit Racing, Craig was additionally affected by damage in 2023 however was capable of return and characterize Group USA on the FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in September. At 32, Craig has the need to determine himself towards the entrance of the premier class and has been having fun with the pre-season to this point.
“I’m feeling fairly good getting into one other 12 months with the crew, so I’m extra comfy, studying everybody round me, and clearly studying the bike extra with extra seat time,” commented Craig. “I’m coming off a fairly severe damage, so simply attempting to construct again up from that and we’re type of in the course of boot camp proper now. I’m excited for the brand new 12 months, I must put in some outcomes, so am very centered and pushed for this one. This previous season was an enormous studying 12 months for me, so this time I do know what to anticipate with the coaching program, driving program, and what the crew brings – I must step up and attempt to be upfront as a lot as doable.”
As probably the most skilled riders within the 250 Class, RJ Hampshire has his sights firmly set on reaching title success within the new 12 months. He was runner-up in 250SX West final 12 months and raced to 3rd place within the inaugural 250SMX standings, now motivated to seize a first-career championship with Rockstar Vitality Husqvarna Manufacturing unit Racing.
“My objective is to undoubtedly attempt to get a championship,” Hampshire acknowledged. “We’ve been shut the final two years in a row, so I’ll simply come into the season, take it race-by-race, and construct from the place had been final 12 months. The crew has labored actually laborious to make the bike pretty much as good as doable, and there are quite a lot of enhancements already. We had been in a great spot final season, so if we could be a bit higher this 12 months, I undoubtedly suppose we are able to get it performed. Supercross was huge for me as a result of I had seven podiums in seven years after which final 12 months I had eight in complete, in order that was a very large step in my profession. The following step is to get the pink plate, so that’s the objective going into the season. The crew has been superior, there may be nowhere else I might reasonably be, and I simply renewed my deal for 2 extra years – it simply goes to point out how a lot I imagine on this crew and the way a lot I imagine in myself, as a result of we’ve grown quite a bit collectively. They imagine in me quite a bit to go on the market and carry out additionally, and I undoubtedly suppose that this 12 months can be one other large step in our relationship.”
For Farres, the prospect to affix Rockstar Vitality Husqvarna sees him getting ready for his maiden 250SX marketing campaign, through which the 20-year-old Spanish revelation is seeking to develop essential Supercross expertise through the upcoming season, earlier than turning his consideration outdoor.
“The transition to the Husqvarna FC 250 and the Rockstar Vitality Husqvarna crew has been actually good,” Farres stated. “That is my first time ever right here in Clermont, Florida, coaching and first time in California. To this point, so good. Everybody has been actually welcoming on the crew, I’ve been having an excellent time, and I’m excited for the 2024 season. It’s going to be my rookie season in Supercross, so I’m going to deal with staying wholesome, being at each spherical, and bettering on daily basis with each lap. I’ve by no means raced in a stadium earlier than, so I’m positive it’s going to be one thing new and I’m going to be a bit nervous, however hopefully it will get higher after the primary spherical.”
Thrilling teenage prospect Cochran has graduated to the skilled ranks with Rockstar Vitality Husqvarna full-time for 2024, the 17-year-old seeking to construct upon the Supercross Futures AMA Nationwide Championship that he gained in 2023, whereas studying his craft as an expert within the sport.
“It’s my first official professional season, so I’m trying ahead to getting on the market with the massive guys and mixing it up, getting good outcomes,” Cochran commented. “Nothing too extravagant thus far, however my objective is to get used to the entire program. It’s a super-cool alternative as a result of we now have labored our entire lives for this deal, this contract, to be on a manufacturing facility crew, so I’m super-excited to be right here and have a terrific crew round me and able to get to work. I’ve at all times personally favored Supercross higher than outdoor, so I’m excited to race indoors. I raced Futures final 12 months and that was an excellent expertise, so the extra indoors, the higher!”
