A group of seven riders will compose the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team in offroad competitions for the 2024 season. They will be participating in various leading series in the United States with the shared objective of contending for race victories and championship titles.
The Husqvarna Motorcycles program has renewed contracts with returning riders Craig DeLong, Trevor Bollinger, Austin Walton, Dalton Shirey, Colton Haaker, and Ryder LeBlond. Additionally, the team welcomes Korie Steede to the factory organization.
Anthony DiBasilio, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager: “This past year was great for us and we had a lot of success, winning the GNCC XC1 Pro Championship with Craig DeLong, as well as the Hare and Hound Championship with Dalton Shirey picking up his third Pro Class title there. We’re really excited to continue the partnership with Craig after signing him to a new, long-term deal. Now, we’re looking for 2024 to be even better, and to hopefully add some more championships underneath the tent with our exciting list of returning riders. We have also added a new rider, Korie Steede, to the roster and we’re really excited about that, to see what we can do to help her continue the success that she has achieved in her career. Together, with the riders and crew within the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, we look forward to the upcoming season.”
The new Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Champion DeLong will defend his XC1 Open Pro title and also compete in the AMA U.S. Sprint Enduro Series under a multi-year extension. In GNCC, Bollinger will race on the Husqvarna Motorcycles FX 350 and also participate in the AMA National Enduro Series.
Both DeLong and Bollinger will be joined by WXC front-runner Steede in GNCC. Steede, who finished as runner-up in the 2023 standings with two round wins, will also enter the Sprint Enduro Series. Additionally, Steede was part of the U.S. team’s winning FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) Women’s World Trophy squad in Argentina, concluding a successful season.
Craig DeLong: “I am really looking forward to another few years together with Husqvarna and getting a chance to defend my championship in the GNCC series. The bike is working great and I’m already ready to get racing again!”
Trevor Bollinger: “I’m eager to kick off my sixth season with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna. There’s been a few changes to my program for this year coming, but that doesn’t change the goal to win races and fight for championships.”
Korie Steede: “I’m super-stoked to start my first year with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing and I can’t thank the team enough for the amazing opportunity! I’m ready to get dialed on the new bike and to chase these championships – we have what it takes!”
Preparing for the 2024 season with the Husqvarna Motorcycles FX 450, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing will field Walton and Shirey in the AMA National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) and National Hare and Hound (NHHA) Championship. Shirey aims to challenge for his fourth-career Pro class title.
Austin Walton: “The 2024 season is coming up and I’m super-excited for it. Some updates to the bike have made me really happy, so I’m feeling at home, feeling comfortable, and am looking forward to kicking things off again. Last season didn’t play out exactly how I wanted it to, but we will keep working hard and I think we will be able to put in results, see if we can get ourselves on the top step of the podium. I’m excited to further my time with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team.”
Dalton Shirey: “It was really good to win another NHHA Championship this season and my goal is to carry my form over to defend that title again, while also aiming to make gains in the NGPC Series.”
A quality AMA U.S. Hard Enduro Championship and AMA EnduroCross Championship combination continues in the form of five-time EX Pro number one Haaker and LeBlond. The duo will be equipped with the Husqvarna Motorcycles TE 300 in Hard Enduro, before transferring across to the FX 350 in EnduroCross.
Colton Haaker: “I am excited for my ninth season with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team. It’s been amazing to have captured eight major titles in as many years with the team and I’d love to keep the score even at nine with another championship in 2024. As a team, we are focused on the goal and are ready for the challenge.”
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