By Racer X Staff
Another installment of our Silly Season update. Gather round the water cooler (do people still do that anymore? Is that a term? Maybe we should just say group-text your friends?) to share this info and you’ll have some bench-racing kindling for the next week or two.
Then comes October, when most 2014 contracts officially expire and 2015 deals can officially be announced. Expect this list to change then, but, for the moment, this is as up to date as it gets.
450 Class
GEICO Honda: #3 Eli Tomac
Notes: The two-rider GEICO 450 team, which included Tomac and Wil Hahn last year, has been trimmed to just Tomac for 2015.
American Honda: #41 Trey Canard, #14 Cole Seely
Notes: Canard signed an extension this year, which will keep him with Honda through 2016. Seely and Honda agreed to a multi-year deal in August.
Yoshimura Suzuki: #7 James Stewart, #4 Blake Baggett
Note: The team has confirmed that they have signed a second 450 rider for 2015. We suspect it will be Blake Baggett.
RCH/Soaring Eagle Suzuki: #94/#1 Ken Roczen
Note: We are not sure if there will be a teammate for Roczen. If there is one, Broc Tickle would be the logical choice.
Red Bull KTM: #5 Ryan Dungey, #15 Dean Wilson
Note: The Wilson deal, like so many team switches, won’t be officially announced until October 1. He will ride a 450 Kawasaki at the Motocross of Nations this weekend.
BTOSports KTM: #10 Justin Brayton, #29 Andrew Short
Notes: Justin Brayton will make the switch to BTO after spending last season with Toyota/JGR Yamaha. Short returns to the team after a fantastic 2014 season.
Rockstar Energy Racing Husqvarna: #21 Jason Anderson
Note: This is today’s Rockstar Energy Racing KTM team in new colors: Husky! Anderson re-signed with the team for a 450 deal after winning his 250 West Region Championship.
Toyota/JGR Yamaha: #51 Justin Barcia, #23 Weston Peick
Note: This is one of the only new deals that is official. Yamaha announced yesterday that they had extended their relationship with JGR and signed Barcia and Peick for next season. We also think Phil Nicoletti might be back here with another part-time deal.
Monster Energy Kawasaki: #18 Davi Millsaps, #48 Wil Hahn
Note: Millsaps parted ways with Rockstar Energy Racing earlier this year, which is why he has been seen riding the Kawasaki in public. The official word on the Hahn deal is not expected to come until October 1. Ryan Villopoto appears to be on his way to Europe, but nothing is official.
TwoTwo Motorsports: #22 Chad Reed, #33 Josh Grant
Note: Reed let the cat out of the bag on Instagram earlier this month. Grant has been testing the Kawasaki recently.
SmarTop/MotoConcepts: #800 Mike Alessi
Notes: The team announced earlier this month they had come to terms with Alessi on a new deal for 2015. According to the press release, the team will compete in “AMA Supercross season, AMA Pro Motocross, Canadian Motocross, and a very strong interest for a World GP partnership.” The release also stated that the team is in discussions to bring on another rider.
Mafia Moto: #27 Nick Wey
Note: We hear Jake Weimer could hook up with Wey in tandem on Kawasakis.
DirtCandyGraphics/PRBC.COM: #69 Ronnie Stewart, Robert Lind
Notes: Both riders will return to the team for 2015.
Free Agents
#75 Josh Hill: No word yet on Hill, who rode the CMRC Canadian Motocross Nationals this summer after parting ways with RCH/Soaring Eagle Suzuki after supercross.
#20 Broc Tickle: Will Tickle return to RCH/Soaring Eagle Suzuki? Like the rest, we should hear something shortly.
#12 Jake Weimer: Possibly a Kawasaki side deal with Nick Wey.
#24 Brett Metcalfe: No word on what awaits Metcalfe, who filled in for Ryan Villopoto with Monster Energy Kawasaki in 2014. Could he be heading back to Canada?
#36 Matt Goerke: Goerke spent the past two years with BTOSports KTM. We hear he’s searching through a variety of deals, with everything from AMSOIL Arenacross and a return to the Canadian Nationals possibly in the cards.
#34 Malcolm Stewart: No word on where Stewart will end up in 2015. Rumors are he is still looking for a deal.
#53 Jimmy Albertson: Albertson will probably be back with his own deal like he had in 2014.
#70 Nick Schmidt: No word yet on the Washington native. But we hear he may be switching brands for next year. He rode Hondas in 2014.
# 39 Fredrik Noren: Noren told us recently that he will know more when he returns from the Motocross of Nations in Latvia.
#11 Kyle Chisholm: Chisholm split his time between Canada and the U.S. in 2014.
#46 Phil Nicoletti: Could be back in a part-time deal with Toyota/JGR Yamaha like he had in 2014.
#42 Ben LaMay: Could return to CycleTrader/Rock River Yamaha.
Kyle Regal: Regal split his time between arenacross and supercross last year.
Kyle Partridge: Partridge is returning from a torn ACL suffered in Monster Energy Supercross.
#58 Killy Rusk: No word on where Rusk will land in 2015.
#63 Chris Blose: Blose posted on social media that he will ride for the Babbits/Monster Energy Kawasaki team in arenacross next year.
#87 Cody Gilmore: No word on Gilmore for 2015.
250 Class
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki: #50 Adam Cianciarulo, #200 Arnaud Tonus, #66 Chris Alldredge, Tyler Bowers, #37 Joey Savatgy
Notes: Adam Cianciarulo returns from a shoulder injury that cost him the entire Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship and will be joined by rookie Chris Alldredge, who will not have to compete in the Ricky Carmichael Road to Supercross. Tonus, 23, is coming over from the GPs. Nothing is official on Bowers and Savatgy, but both should be announced soon.
GEICO Honda: #19/#1 Justin Bogle, #80 RJ Hampshire, #38 Matt Bisceglia, Jordon Smith
Notes: GEICO made a run at Savatgy, but it appears PC will land the former Supercross Rookie of the Year. There could be room for a fifth guy, but we believe they will only do it for the right rider, and Savatgy was probably the last option. This team’s hopes come down to Bogle and a lot of young talent. Unlike Alldredge, Jordon Smith does have to qualify for supercross via the RC Road to SX. Look for him to race a few arenacross events in January and then race 250SX East Region.
Rockstar Energy Racing Husqvarna: #47 Martin Davalos, #16 Zach Osborne
Notes: This was Rockstar Energy Racing’s last year aboard KTMs. They will be back with new colors and new riders! (Although, Jason Anderson is not leaving the team, just moving to a 450). No word on if they plan to add another rider, but we hear Zach Bell could be in the running.
Red Bull KTM: #25 Marvin Musquin, #32 Justin Hill
Notes: Movin’ Marv will be back, and KTM outbid Pro Circuit to grab up Hill. Win a few West Region SX races and you’ll have teams calling you, too.
Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs KTM: #40 Shane McElrath, #28 Jessy Nelson, #97 Darryn Durham
Notes: From Honda to KTM! This team takes Rockstar Energy’s place as KTM’s factory satellite 250 team. Durham will be a new addition, while McElrath and Nelson return. At this time, we are unsure what the future is for Malcolm Stewart, who rode 250SX and 450 MX for the team last year.
Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha: #6/#1 Jeremy Martin, #17 Cooper Webb, Aaron Plessinger, #62 Anthony Rodriguez
Notes: J-Mart and Webb are good to go after re-signing with the team earlier this year. A-Pless is fresh out of the amateur ranks and completed the Road to SX via arenacross earlier this year. We expect A-Rod to return—although that’s not official yet.
CycleTrader.com/Rock River Yamaha: #31 Alex Martin
Notes: We hear Alex Martin is returning to the team—although that is not official. Luke Renzland rode for the team after Loretta’s, and did not rule out a return to the team. The status of Ben LaMay, who rode for the team last year, is also uncertain, but he could be back.
Gurrnaid Energy Drink/AG Motorsports: #55 Kyle Peters
Notes: Gurrnaid Energy Drink extended their partnership agreement with AG Motorsports through 2015. The team is expected to announce more riders soon.
Free Agents:
#30 Christophe Pourcel: Pourcel told us several times this summer he was enjoying himself here, which means he’d like to keep racing. But we don’t know if this current Valli Motorsports Yamaha team will be back. So, what happens next?
#34 Malcolm Stewart: See the TLD/KTM entry above.
#44 Zach Bell: Bell is another big-name free agent that has yet to announce a deal for next season. We hear Rockstar Energy Racing Husqvarna could be an option.
#72 Blake Wharton: After spending the summer riding Supermoto, Wharton is expected to return to supercross next year. He has not announced a deal.
Luke Renzland: See Rock River entry above.
#35 Kyle Cunningham: Cunningham spent last year with SmarTop/MotoConcepts. No official word on whether he is returning.
#43 Matt Lemoine: Lemoine has spent the past few years with JAB Motorsports.
#52 Mitchell Oldenburg: Oldenburg broke out on the 450 in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross this season, but has spent the past two years in supercross in the 250 Class.
#45 Vince Friese: After finishing third in the 250SX East Region with The Factory Metal Works/Club MX squad, Friese raced the Canadian Nationals with SmarTop/MotoConcepts.
#49 Jimmy Decotis: Jimmy D got help from Riverside Harley Davidson in 2014.
#56 Cole Thompson: Thompson spent 2014 with Rockstar Energy Racing KTM.
#64 AJ Catanzaro: Catanzaro also rode for The Factory Metal Works/Club MX team last season.
#60 Jake Canada: Canada spent last season with 51FIFTY Energy Drink. The team has brought on Craig Monty as team manager, but has not announced any riders.
#95 Nick Gaines: The rookie got help from Traders Kawasaki after graduating from Loretta’s. No word on if he returns to the team in 2015.
#61 Michael Leib: Leib rode for Rocket Exhaust before a broken fibula and numerous ligament tears in his right ankle forced him to miss Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
#79 Jace Owen: The rookie spent his first professional season with The Factory Metal Works/Club MX team in 2014.
#65 Scott Champion: Rode for Strikt Slaton Yamaha in 2014. We hear he is expected to return to the team for 2015.
#77 Justin Starling: Got help from Exeo Entertainment last season.
Josh Hansen: Hanny told us he is looking to return in 2015 with help from MotoSport.
#59 Dakota Tedder: Will be back with Team Tedder.
Austin Politelli: Broke his femur in Monster Energy Supercross this year. He raced the Canadian Nationals this summer.
#88 Dakota Alix: Got help from FMF KTM Orange Brigade Team last year.
#86 Zack Freeberg: Was also a member of Strikt Slaton Yamaha in 2014.
#98 Gavin Faith: No word on the former Australian Supercross champion.
#57: Jackson Richardson: Is expected to rider Monster Energy Supercross again.
#71 Cole Martinez: Got help from JAB Motorsports in 2014.
#73 Gannon Audette: No word on the former Star Racing rider.
#74 Zack Williams: No word on the privateer.
#78 Preston Mull: Rode for Strikt Slaton Yamaha in 2014.
#81 Tommy Weeck: Told us recently he hopes to put something together for a full season in 2015.
#84: Jesse Wentland: Rode in Canada after Monster Energy Supercross in 2014.
#89 Brady Kiesel: No word on the privateer.
#90: Topher Ingalls: No word on Ingalls for 2015.
#91 Chris Howell: No word on the privateer.
#92 Cade Clason: Rode for AG Motorsports/Peters Auto Mall in 2014.
#93 Dillian Epstein: No word on Epstein for next year.
#99 Paul Coates: No word on the privateer for 2015.
#85 Landen Powell: No word on the privateer.
#83 Levi Kilbarger: No word on the privateer.