The 2024 season is fast approaching and, in the United States and Canada next year, we will see a couple of New Zealand riders competing too.
Bay of Plenty’s Brodie Connolly has spent the past season racing for the Polyflor Honda Racing Team in Australia, eventually finishing the nationals third overall in the MX2 class, behind Wilson Todd and Nathan Crawford, but now he is set to join FirePower Honda and race in the USA in 2024.
Connolly has already impressed at the elite level of the sport.
Although Team New Zealand failed to qualify for the main races at the season-ending Motocross of Nations in Michigan in the United States in 2022, MX2 class rider Connolly took his 250cc bike to finish second against the 450F riders in the B-Final.
Fellow Tauranga athlete Josiah Natzke will again race for Partzilla PRMX Kawasaki in the Canadian motocross nationals next season.
Natzke (pictured here) spent several seasons racing the European Motocross Championships (the EMX125 in 2015, where he finished the season sandwiched on the podium between Spain’s Jorge Prado and Frenchman Maxime Renaux).
He raced in the British Motocross Championships and in the EMX250 class in Europe for the following three years as well.
Once the COVID-019 pandemic had settled down and became less of an issue for international travel, he then went to the United States in 2022 to race for Kawasaki and he has been racing for the Partzilla PRMX Kawasaki in the United States and Canada for the past two seasons.
The supercross season in the USA is all set to kick off at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on Saturday, January 5, and below we list the major teams and riders who have signed contracts for the 2024 Supercross, Motocross and SuperMotocross seasons.
Red Bull KTM
#7 Aaron Plessinger (450 SX and MX): Aaron Plessinger begins a new one-year extension with Red Bull KTM for 2024.
#4 Chase Sexton (450 SX and MX): After four and a half years at HRC, Chase Sexton makes the switch and leads the roster for the Red Bull KTM squad.
#16 Tom Vialle (250 SX and MX): The two-time French MX2 World Champion will begin the second year of his two-year deal in 2024.
#929 Julian Beaumer (250 SX and MX): Julian Beaumer makes his Pro Supercross debut with the Red Bull KTM squad in 2024 and replaces Maximus Vohland.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
#27 Malcolm Stewart (450 SX and MX): Stewart will begin 2024 on a new two-year contract.
#28 Christian Craig (450 SX and MX): Craig enters the second year of his two-year deal with Husqvarna.
#24 RJ Hampshire (250 SX and MX): RJ started 2023 on a one-year contract now he has a new two-year deal with options beyond 2025.
#83 Guillem Farres (250 SX and MX): The Spanish sensation, Guillem Farres, joins Husqvarna Factory Racing for 2024.
Casey Cochran (SX Futures, 250 SX East and MX): Cochran begins his A class/Pro season.
Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing
#51 Justin Barcia (450): The man they call “BamBam” is back and has a new two-year contract in hand. Justin Barcia remains the team’s sole 450 rider in 2024 and will be with the team through 2025.
#39 Pierce Brown (250): 2024 will mark the second and final year of Pierce Brown’s current agreement with the team.
#34 Ryder DiFrancesco (250): The long-time Kawasaki racer, Ryder DiFrancesco, will join the TLD squad for 2024 and 2025.
Team Honda HRC
#18 Jett Lawrence (450 SX and MX): 2024 will mark the first full-time 450 season for Jett Lawrence.
#96 Hunter Lawrence (450 SX and MX): Hunter Lawrence will step up to the 450 full-time, alongside his brother for 2024.
#48 Chance Hymas (250 SX and MX): Chance Hymas enters the second year of his pro deal for 2024, which runs through 2025.
#30 Jo Shimoda (250 SX and MX): Jo Shimoda rejoins Honda and will enter his first year of racing for Team Honda HRC on a two-year contract for 2024 and 2025.
Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha
#3 Eli Tomac (450 SX Only): Eli Tomac has confirmed he is coming back in 2024 and, as of now, it’s apparently a Supercross-only deal.
#32 Justin Cooper (450 SX and MX): Justin Cooper himself has stated he has a full-time 450 deal lined up for 2024.
#2 Cooper Webb (450 SX and MX): Returning to the team that gave him his shot as a pro, Cooper Webb is on a two-year deal, with a third-year option.
#31 Jordon Smith (250 SX and MX): 2024 will mark the second year of a two-year deal for Jordan Smith.
#38 Haiden Deegan (250 SX and MX): 2024 will mark the second year on a contract that takes Haiden ‘Danger Boy” Deegan through at least 2025 with the Star 250 squad (with an option for 2026).
#50 Enzo Lopes (250 SX and MX): Lopes will not be with ClubMX in 2024, but we expect he will be lining up to race, with a team alignment yet to be confirmed.
#57 Nate Thrasher (250 SX and MX): For the fourth season, Nate Thrasher will be racing with Star Racing.
#59 Daxton Bennick (250 SX and MX): After going to Star Racing on a handshake agreement for SX Futures in 2023, Daxton Bennick has been rewarded with a two-year deal taking him into 2024 and 2025 with the team.
#61 Stilez Robertson (250 SX and MX): 2024 will mark the second year of a two-year deal for Stilez Robertson.
#411 Nick Romano (250 SX and MX): Nick Romano is being retained by Star Racing for 2024.
Gavin Towers (SX Futures and 250 MX?): Similar to Daxton Bennick’s deal in 2023, amateur racer Gavin Towers is on a tryout/handshake deal with Star Racing that will take the young racer through SX Futures.
Monster Energy Kawasaki
#9 Adam Cianciarulo (450 SX and MX): Adam Cianciarulo enters the second year of his current deal with Kawasaki.
#21 Jason Anderson (450 SX and MX): Jason Anderson will return to the Factory Kawasaki squad on a new two-year contract.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki
#43 Seth Hammaker (250 SX and MX): Hammaker begins the second year of his current two-year deal in 2024.
#63 Cameron McAdoo (250 SX and MX): McAdoo begins the second year of his current two-year deal in 2024.
#64 Austin Forkner (250 SX and MX): With recent rule changes, Austin Forkner is no longer on the bubble to be bumped out of the 250 class. He has been retained for the 2024 season at Pro Circuit.
#47 Levi Kitchen (250 SX and MX): Pro Circuit’s big signing for 2024, as they beat out both Red Bull KTM and Triumph Racing for Levi Kitchen’s services. Kitchen joins the team on a two-year deal.
#20 Maximus Vohland (250 SX and MX): Maximus is set to ride for the same team his father raced for in 2000 and 2001.
Triumph Racing (Monster Energy Triumph Racing
#17 Joey Savatgy (250 MX): Savatgy has confirmed his two-year deal with Triumph. Signing for 2024 and 2025, with 2024 being a 250 Pro Motocross-only deal.
#33 Jalek Swoll (250 SX and MX).
Evan Ferry (SX Futures, 250 SX and 250 MX): Through Triumph’s launch video, it has been confirmed that Evan Ferry is aboard their team for 2024.
Ecstar HEP Racing Suzuki
#94 Ken Roczen (450 SX and WSX): Ken Roczen has re-upped for another year with HEP Suzuki, this contract runs through 2024.
#11 Kyle Chisholm (450 SX, MX, and WSX): Chisholm enters his second year back at HEP, part of a multi-year deal for racing and bike development.
#12 Shane McElrath (450 SX, MX, and WSX): After filling in at HEP in 2023, McElrath returns in 2024 as a full-time racer.
BARX Suzuki
#52 Derek Drake (250 SX and 450 MX): We expect to see Derek Drake back with BarX Suzuki for his fourth season in 2024.
#128 Preston Boespflug (250 SX and MX): Boespflug has recently announced he will join BarX as a pro for 2024 after his final year of amateurs aboard Orange Brigade KTM.
#540 Leo Tucker (250 SX and MX): Tucker embarks on his rookie pro season with BarX.
#77 Michael Mosiman (250 SX and MX): Rumors suggest that Mosiman is in contact with BarX about a potential spot in 2024.
Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX Yamaha Racing
#6 Jeremy Martin (250 SX and 450 MX): Right before his injury, Jeremy Martin signed a three-year extension with the team.
#26 Garrett Marchbanks (250 SX and 450 MX): After racing the Pro Motocross season on a 450, it sounds like we’ll see a split schedule for Garrett Marchbanks again next year. 250 indoors and 450 outdoors.
#36 Phil Nicoletti (250 and 450 MX): It’s pretty much a guarantee that Phil Nicoletti will return for 2024 with the team.
#99 Jett Reynolds (250 SX and MX): Reports state that Reynolds has recently tested with the ClubMX team and will be replacing the outgoing Enzo Lopes.
Mark Finies (SX Futures?): It sounds like amateur GasGas racer Mark Finies, may switch over to ClubMX for SX Futures and further racing in 2024.
Liqui Moly Beta Racing
#45 Colt Nichols (450 SX Only): Colt Nichols has been announced as Beta USA’s second factory rider. It’s apparently a Supercross-only deal.
#67 Benny Bloss (450 SX Only): Beta has named Benny Bloss as their first US Supercross factory rider.
AEO Powersports KTM Racing
#53 Derek Kelly (250 West SX and 450 MX): Derek Kelley returns to AEO KTM in 2024 and it looks like he’ll be 250 indoors and 450 outdoors for the first time with the team.
#35 Talon Hawkins (250 West SX and 250 MX): It looks like the KTM group has found a home for Talon Hawkins after his unexpected pro season at Factory Husqvarna, linking him up with the AEO support team.
Ryder McNabb (SX Futures and 250 MX?): Canadian MX2 Champion Ryder McNabb is heavily rumoured to be joining the AEO team for 2024, if so he would likely race SX Futures and then a full season of AMA Pro Motocross aboard a 250
FirePower Honda
#15 Dean Wilson (450 SX Only): Dean Wilson enters his second year on a two-year deal with the Firepower Honda team.
#37 Max Anstie (250 East): Anstie enters the second year of a two-year deal, with an option for a third year.
Will Campbell (SX Futures): Will was supported by the team last year and for 2024 he’ll be racing SX Futures.
Brodie Connolly (SX Futures and 250 East?): Firepower Honda’s junior racer from New Zealand, Brodie Connolly, will be joining their US program in 2024. He has spent the past season racing for Honda in Australia.
Heartbeat Hot Sauce Solitaire Yamaha
#71 Cole Thompson (250 West SX): Thompson joins the team in 2023 after privateering 2022.
#73 Robbie Wageman (250 West SX): After leaving Solitaire at the end of 2022 to race for BarX Suzuki in 2023, Robbie is returning to his long-time home for 2024.
MotoConcepts Honda
Vince Friese (250 West SX, select 450 MX and SX, and 450 WSX): He is expected to return with MCR in 2024.
#55 Mitchell Oldenburg (250 West SX, select 450 MX and SX, and 450 WSX): He is expected to return with MCR in 2024.
#41 Carson Mumford (250 SX, select 250 MX, and WSX): Mumford has started riding the MCR bike and will race WSX for them in 2023 and US for 2024.
#943 Noah Viney (SX Futures, select 250 MX, and WSX): Viney will be competing for MCR in 2024.
Partzilla PRMX Kawasaki
#81 Cade Clason (450 SX): Clason has signed a two-year extension with PRMX.
Josiah Natzke (Canadian Nationals): After racing 250 Supercross with the team in 2023, Natzke is continuing with the team but choosing to focus solely on the Canadian Nationals.
#85 Hunter Yoder (250 SX): Hunter raced for the team in 2023 and there’s an offer for him to return in 2024.
Aaron Tanti (450 SX): Australian champ Aaron Tanti is rumoured to have a 450 Supercross deal in place with PRMX.
#82 Mitchell Harrison (250 SX): Mitchell Harrison joins PRMX for the first time on a 250 Supercross-only deal.
HBI Racing
#29 Ty Masterpool (450SX and MX?): After joining HBI mid-way into outdoors, it looks like he’ll be continuing with them and possibly on a 450 all year.
#42 Caden Braswell (250 East SX and 250 MX): Braswell is set to stay with HBI in 2024.
#427 Cole Bradford (250 East SX): Cole was injured on and off in 2023 but returns for 2024.
#90 Hardy Munoz (250 East SX): Munoz will continue with HBI in 2024.
#137 Ayden Shive (250 East SX): Shive joins HBI for 2024.
Rock River Yamaha
#23 Grant Harlan (450 SX and MX): Harlan, the Hawaiian-native, returns for 2024 with Rock River.
#80 Michael Hicks (GT Arenacross and 250 East SX?): Hicks is racing for Rock River to defend his GT Arenacross crown.
Ti-Lube Honda
#65 Henry Miller (250 East SX): Miller is riding for Rick Ware Racing in World Supercross, but continues on with Ti-Lube Honda for 250 East.
Madd Parts Kawasaki
Bubba Pauli (450 SX): He owns the team.
#22 Freddie Noren (450 SX and MX): After racing Supercross for Madd Parts in 2023, Freddie Noren returns for a full-time roll in 2024.
Team Tedder
#44 Josh Hill (450 SX): Business as usual.
#46 Justin Hill (450 SX): Business as usual.
WILDCAT Racing
#49 Jose Burtron (450 MX): We expect to see Butron back for AMA Pro Motocross in 2024.
#60 Lorenzo Locurcio (250 SX and 450 MX): Locurcio should be back in the US full-time in 2024, racing indoors on a 250 and outdoors on a 450.
MDK Motorsports
#19 Justin Bogle (450 SX): If MDK races in the US in 2024, Bogle would be in the 450cc class.
#84 Anthony Rodriguez (450 SX):
Team Next Level Racing
Justin Rodbell (450 SX)
Chase Marquier (450 SX)
#97 Tristan Lane (450 SX)
Hunter Schlosser (450 SX)
Colby Copp (450 SX)
Scott Meshey (450 SX)
Phoenix Honda
#14 Dylan Ferrandis (450 SX?): French rider Ferrandis was left without a ride at Yamaha and has therefore signed to race for Phoenix Honda.
Privateers
62 Kevin Moranz (450 SX): Moranz will be doing his own program aboard Hondas.
#65 Justin Starling (450 SX): Starling returns for 450 SX-only, aboard Hondas.
#68 Romain Pape (450 MX):
#70 Jerry Robin (450 SX and MX):
#74 Joshua Cartwright (450 SX):
#78 Joshua Varize (250 SX):
#471 Logan Karnow (450 SX):
© Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
Find BikesportNZ.com on FACEBOOK here