Jett Reynolds to Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX Yamaha
At the end of May, the Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX Yamaha team announced its 2023 lineup would be unchanged from 2022, with Garrett Marchbanks, Jeremy Martin, Enzo Lopes, and Phil Nicoletti all returning to the team. But that changed recently when Lopes got out of his deal (paying a penalty to terminate the contract) and switched to Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing. That left an opening in the 250 class at ClubMX, and they're going to fill it with Jett Reynolds.
Reynolds was once the hottest prospect in American amateur motocross, amassing nine-straight titles at the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch (riders can only race two classes per year, so Reynolds' nine-straight meant he won two titles every year from 2013-2016 and then another in 2017, before bike problems finally ended his streak). He was expected to break the Adam Cianciarulo/Mike Alessi/James Stewart record of 11 titles out of the Youth ranks and move to the pros. Instead, Reynolds got hurt, and then hurt again, and again, and soon a massive run of injuries had set his results back massively. Still, he had a long-term deal with Kawasaki that took him into the pro ranks, but attempts to get going in 2022 and 2023 were again thwarted by injury. He crashed out of press day at the 2022 250SX Supercross East Region opener, and his wrist took a long time to heal. He was finally back racing for the opening round of the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross Championship and looked quick, with good starts and speed at the opening rounds at Fox Raceway and Hangtown. Then crashes started, including one when he was up front at Hangtown, followed by a shoulder injury from a wild pileup off the start at Thunder Valley. He later returned only to drop out of the Southwick race with food poisoning. That was the last we saw of Reynolds at the races.
Now he's resurfaced with ClubMX. The team helps tell his story with a press release below.
The following is a press release from Muc-Off/FXR ClubMX Yamaha
Phenom Jett Reynolds moves to ClubMX and Yamaha in 2024
CHESTERFIELD, SC: Jett Reynolds is one of those racers that can surprise you at any moment. His skill on a motorcycle is unquestioned. His pedigree in the sport as an amateur is one of legend and his desire to succeed is palpable. Now he has the opportunity of a lifetime as he signs on with Muc-Off / FXR / ClubMX for 2024. It is a one-year deal by his choice because, as he said: “I want to prove myself and I have one season to do it. It puts all the pressure on me to perform and achieve the goals I have had for a very long time.”
The nineteen-year-old started racing at the young age of six. He entered his first race – The Dodge National at Hangtown on a Cobra Jr. and won his class. First event, first win – he was hooked. The Reynolds family raced locally and regionally the first year and Jett was a sensation. The family Suburban was loaded down with trophies every weekend from tracks all over the area. In 2011 – Jett’s Dad decided to set a two-year timeline and give it the best effort they could to garner some support at a higher level. Fast forward to 2022 and the rearview mirror was packed with major accomplishments. Reynolds had joined the Team Green program for ten years, won every major and minor amateur championship across the country and became one of the most notable winners at Loretta Lynn’s with nine championships. An amazing run by any measure.
Reynolds turned professional in the summer of 2023 and had a bit of a rocky start to the series. Winning comes with expectations, internally and externally. When his contract was not extended, it gave him the perfect opportunity to change everything about his career and ClubMX was one of the options. Reynolds said: “My first trip to the ClubMX facility was interesting. I was curious how anyone could live in such a small town which would be an enormous change from my life in California. I tested the bike, spoke to the crew, saw where I would be living, and it quickly made sense. I am going to be held accountable every day, with no distractions and every possible tool I would need to succeed. The place is like nothing I had ever seen, the tracks are next level, the bike is incredible, and the people are willing to help me in any way possible.”
It will be a big change for sure but as they say, you cannot do the same thing, the same way and expect different results.
Team owner Brandon Hass added: “Jett is one of those racers that could use the focused attention that we can offer. There is no doubt he knows how to ride a bike, now it is up to us to figure out how to get him back to his winning ways. It will be a good test for both of us and we are committed to making it work.”
For now, Reynolds is getting used to the speed and performance of the Yamaha YZ250F platform as well as his new surroundings. It is a work in progress but as of now, it is all positive. He is slated to ride in both AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross for the 2024 season.
