Dean Wilson Signs as Fill-In Rider for Honda HRC Progressive (No Really, Not April Fool's)
With both Hunter and Jett Lawrence sidelined with respective injuries, Dean Wilson has been announced as a fill-in rider for the final five rounds of Monster Energy AMA Supercross. Yes, this announcement came on April Fool's but we are serious, Wilson will be the Honda HRC Progressive fill-in rider starting at the Philadelphia SX round (April 12). Wilson—and Honda HRC Progressive team manager Lars Lindstrom—had some fun making the announcement, as you will see below...
Video/text: Dean Wilson:
Well, Grandpa Earl is back! Just minding his business watching the Supercross season unfold. That's until both of the Lawrence brothers got injured. He decided to take matters into his own hands & see if he can get the job on factory Honda HRC.... Watch and see how it unfolds!
The following is a press release from Honda HRC Progressive:
TORRANCE, Calif. – Honda HRC Progressive announced today that Dean Wilson will campaign the factory CRF450RWE race machine for the last five rounds of the 2025 AMA Supercross season, beginning with the April 12 event in Philadelphia.
The squad has fielded a 250-only effort in AMA Supercross since Hunter Lawrence withdrew for shoulder surgery following the February 8 Tampa round (Jett Lawrence had pulled out for knee surgery one week earlier). Hunter hopes to return to action in time for the AMA Pro Motocross series, which starts on May 24 in Pala, California. Since his surgery, Jett has been dedicated to his recovery, which is going extremely well, and he hopes to be racing as soon as possible.
A native of Glasgow, Scotland, Wilson is a veteran of elite-level U.S. racing, having earned the 2011 250 AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Recent seasons have seen him contesting a variety of series, winning the 2023 Australian Supercross Championship in the SX1 division while racing for Yarrive Konsky’s Honda Racing Australia team.
Early this year, Wilson raced for the British St. Blazey Honda team in the UK Arenacross Tour, which he won. He had intended to race five rounds of the AMA Supercross series for the Konsky-owned, Martin Davalos-managed Quad Lock Honda team, but will instead race for the Lars Lindstrom-managed factory squad.
“I’m just really excited and grateful for this opportunity,” said Dean Wilson (also known by his alter ego, Grandpa Earl). “It certainly wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card! It came through unfortunate circumstances, with the Lawrence brothers getting injured. I was on the other side of the pond in the UK, and I shot Lars a text, saying I would be interested. I eventually got a call that it will happen for the last five. I’ve always wanted to ride this bike and be a part of this team, so I kind of feel like a little kid again, to be honest—just over the moon! I’m thankful that Yarrive and Martin were very understanding.”
Wilson began supercross testing with Honda HRC Progressive last week, three weeks ahead of his debut with the squad. In the meantime, Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas continue to represent the team in the 250SX class, campaigning the CRF250RWE in the West and East Regions, respectively.
“On behalf of American Honda, I’d like to welcome Dean to Honda HRC Progressive for the final part of AMA Supercross,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing and Advertising at American Honda. “Obviously, we’ve missed having the Lawrences racing out of our truck for much of this season, but we’re happy to see them progressing well and hope to have them back in action soon. In the meantime, it will be great to have Dean showcasing the CRF450RWE. I’d like to thank Yarrive and Martin at Quad Lock Honda for their flexibility in order to make this happen.”
