The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team will host a four-rider SuperMotocross World Championship roster in 2023.
In the 450cc class, newly-signed Christian Craig and the returning Malcolm Stewart will be aboard the Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Edition, while RJ Hampshire and Jalek Swoll will head the 250cc class efforts with the Husqvarna FC 250.
As the current 250SX Western Regional Champion, 31-year-old Craig will transition to the 450SX division full-time in the upcoming season with momentum on his side. He has swiftly adapted to the FC 450 Rockstar Edition upon training with Aldon Baker at the Baker’s Factory and carries high hopes into both Supercross and motocross.
“This is year one on the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team and it’s been good so far this pre-season. I moved the whole family to Clermont and started fresh with Aldon. We went straight into bootcamp, and it’s been good so far,” Craig said. “I’m just learning the bike, learning the program and just trying to build each day and get better. I’m getting more familiar with the bike every day and just keep grinding. Other than that, just doing the laps and getting ready for A1, trying to be as ready as possible.”
Stewart, meanwhile, is set to continue his upward trajectory in what will be his second year with the team.
After finishing a career-high third in the 450SX standings this past season, complete with three podiums to his credit, expectations for the entire SuperMotocross World Championship are high for the 30-year-old rider.
“I feel great going into the 2023 season with the team. I had a really good year last year for supercross and I felt like we were just getting the ball rolling. I just feel like, for me, it’s all about being consistent, as I’ve always said. I’ve got better goals for myself and I think I got some personal stuff that I know I needed to do done,” Stewart said. “Being with the team again for another year on this bike, I feel like it’s going to be a really good year, so I’m excited.”
Meanwhile, Hampshire and Swoll will continue on as returning riders in the 250 class program.
For Hampshire, this year marks his fourth with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing. The 26-year-old finished runner-up in the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship with a breakout main event win, followed by finishing fifth in Pro Motocross, where he also managed to stand on top of the podium.
Now, he is firmly targeting to contend for championships.
“We’ve had a really solid off-season so far since the beginning of December and I feel like we’re about ready to go. We made a lot of progress with the bike and my comfort, so looking back on last year, I know we’re in a good spot,” Hampshire said. “Getting second in the championship was huge and I definitely feel like we can make a big jump forward.”
At 22 years of age, Swoll enters his fourth term with the team in the professional ranks and is looking to put his experience into practice throughout both indoors and the outdoors. In 2022, he displayed top-five form in supercross and has hopes of building on those results in the 250SX and 250MX series.
“We’ve gotten a lot more time on the bike and have had some really good days back in Florida training with Aldon and I’m feeling good about this season,” Swoll said. “I’m eager to get back into racing with the whole team and look forward to the fun of that whole deal. I’m excited for us riders to come out swinging hard and try to re-brand ourselves this year.”