Surprising news to drop a week before the opener, as Rockstar Husqvarna team manager "Scuba" Steve Westfall will step down from the squad, which was announced in a press release this morning. Westfall will remain with the team through the west coast rounds of supercross while the team finds a new team manager. 

Westfall was a mechanic and then crew chief for the squad. When Bobby Hewiit and the team parted ways Westfall became the interim Team Manager during 2020 and was then named officially top the head spot in October of 2020, just as Zach Osborne was wrapping up the Lucas Oil 450 Pro Motocross Championship.

Here's the PR from the team.

MURRIETA, California—Ahead of the upcoming 2022 AMA Supercross Championship, Husqvarna Motorcycles North America, Inc. and Stephen Westfall have announced that he will step down from the position of manager of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team. After a successful relationship with the team, Westfall has made the decision to step away and focus on time with his family.

Westfall, also known as “Scuba,” began his tenure in 2008 as a highly-respected technician working with many of the sport’s top riders. In 2014, Westfall was promoted to Crew Chief for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, where he served as an integral part of the team’s championship-winning success, including three 250 cc titles with Zach Osborne and capturing the brand’s first-ever 450SX Championship with Jason Anderson. Westfall became the U.S. SX/MX Team Manager in 2020, leading the squad to a very successful season despite a challenging year amidst an unprecedented global pandemic, which culminated with a first-time 450MX Championship from Osborne.

“This is probably the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make but ultimately I have decided to step down as Team Manager and head back to the east coast to spend more time with my family,” Westfall said. “I want to thank Husqvarna Motorcycles for giving me the opportunity to work here over the past eight years and wishing my Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team all the best in the upcoming season – I will be rooting for them every weekend!”

Westfall will remain on-board through the west coast rounds of the 2022 AMA Supercross Championship in order to help the team transition to a new manager, which will be announced at a later date. The opening round will take place next Saturday, January 8 in Anaheim, California.