“It’s great to join the Monster Energy Kawasaki race team for 2022,” said Anderson. “I’m ready to start working with the team to have a successful run right out of the gate when we go racing in January. The bike is proven, and the many accolades of the team speak volumes to what we can achieve together. I’m looking forward to the good times ahead.”
Webb, the reigning Supercross champion, stands pat with Red Bull KTM, which will also field a very solid rider lineup in the premier Supercross class with incoming Aaron Plessinger and veteran Frenchman Marvin Musquin, who signed a Supercross-only contract.
Perhaps overshadowed by the moves of Tomac and Anderson was the announcement of Stewart inking a two-year deal with Rockstar Husqvarna. Stewart will race alongside Dean Wilson and Zach Osborne.
“I’m really excited to have a full indoor/outdoor deal that’s sealed for two years. It’s definitely a great opportunity for me and I think there’s nothing but positive vibes coming from me,” said Stewart, who finished a career-best sixth in the Supercross standings last year. “I’ve always wanted to ride one of these Husqvarna motorcycles, I’ve seen everybody in the past do very well on it. We’ve been putting in the work this summer. Having a new training program going with Aldon Baker, I know there’s going to be a lot of big changes for me but I’m looking forward to it all.”
Rumors had circulated that Osborne may be retiring after a back injury, but late reports say he made major improvements and is set to return in 2022.
Honda’s factory effort in the premier class of Supercross will once again be anchored by Roczen. Roczen’s remarkable comeback from nearly losing his arm in a horrific 2017 crash has been an inspiration. Yet despite his feel-good story, Roczen is eager for more and is striving to finally put an entire Supercross season together so he can hold up the No. 1 plate at the end of the campaign.
Roczen’s 450 class teammate is Sexton. Honda is hoping Sexton, a former Supercross rookie of the year and two-time 250SX East champ, will blossom with a season of 450 racing under his belt.
Justin Barcia, who stunned the Supercross world with a victory in last year’s season opener on the new GasGas machine, returns to the team in 2022. Barcia, who scored four podium finishes last year en route to finishing fourth in the standings, is another rider who is hoping to breakthrough with his first premier class Supercross championship.
MotoConcepts Racing announced that Justin Brayton will return to the team for his 20th and final season as a professional competitor in the Monster Energy Supercross series.
Shane McElrath will join the Rocky Mountain KTM team in the 450 class in both Supercross and motocross competition. It will be his first full season on a 450 after his 2021 debut was interrupted by a shoulder injury. There is talk that Joey Savatgy and Max Anstie may join McElrath on the squad.
Supercross fans have a great deal to look forward to. Can Webb defend his title and become the first rider to win the series three times since Ryan Dungey did so in 2016? Will Tomac be able to dial in on his new Yamaha after riding so long at Kawasaki? Can Anderson quicky adapt to his Kawasaki and return to the form that won him the title in 2018? Will veteran riders such as Roczen, Barcia, Wilson, Cianciarulo and Musquin be able to finally earn the title they’ve been chasing for so long? Can Ferrandis maintain the momentum of winning the outdoors title last summer? Or will it be someone completely unexpected coming through to surprise the rest of the field to become a new series contender?
All of these questions will be answered by May, but regardless of who emerges as champion, the five months of the Supercross season at the very least will be a welcome return to normal in the world of racing after a couple of years of forced modifications due to the pandemic.