BLUE Buffalo/Slater Skins Yamaha have agreed to a deal with veteran AJ Catanzaro for the 2017 Monster Energy Supercross 250SX West Region, the team announced today.

Under a privateer effort in 2016, Catanzaro raced select rounds in the 450 Class, with a season-high 15th coming at Daytona.

“I'm really happy to have AJ onboard for West Coast Supercross. I've always admired his style and how effortlessly he rides,” said team manager Broc Schmelyun in a team statement. “The one thing he's lacked is a great group behind him and the proper equipment. I think he gets both with this opportunity and I'm sure he will make the most of it with his outlook and mindset.”

Catanzaro has two top-five 250SX finishes during his career. Next year will mark the first time the Connecticut native has raced the West Region in the 250 Class. Due to a prior commitment, Catanzaro will race the 450 Class aboard a Kawasaki on the East Coast.

"I'm very excited to sign with the BLUE Buffalo/Slater Skins Yamaha team for the 250 West Coast series,” he said in a team statement. “They will be able to provide me with the resources and top-notch equipment that has been lacking from my program almost the entire duration of my career. I know the jump from racing a Yamaha 250 on the West Coast to racing my Kawasaki 450 on the East Coast (prior commitment) will be a challenge, but this is certainly an opportunity that I don't want to pass up and I know the team will make the transition as easy as possible."