Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing is pleased to announce the addition of Dean Wilson to the 450 class line-up of the Supercross and Pro Motocross team. The final decision was made this week to welcome former 250 AMA Pro Motocross champ and fan-favourite to the team with hopes of seeing Wilson finish out the 2017 Supercross season with success and head into the 2017 Pro Motocross season prepared to take on the field. This weekend Wilson will head to Oakland, California for the 5th round of the 2017 Supercross series where he will race on the Husqvarna FC 450 for the first time.
Husqvarna Motorcycles is also excited to announce the expansion of its factory racing program to encompass the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals in Canada for 2017. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Christophe Pourcel will spearhead that effort this summer as the team’s premier rider in our ongoing expanded global efforts in Canada. Christophe will take the remainder of the 2017 Supercross season off to allow ample time to fully recover from an injury that he sustained during the 2016 Pro Motocross season. He will also use this time to train to be a top performer at the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals.
Dean Wilson: “It’s really exciting. Getting the call from Bobby [Hewitt] was a great moment. I haven’t had a good, happy day like that in a long time. I’m definitely a lot more appreciative than I’ve ever been for a ride. I feel like my training is all good and I plan to keep the same preparation and momentum going. The goal is to stay healthy and try to get in the top ten. I want to remain focused, working hard and making the team proud.”
Christophe Pourcel: “I’m very excited about this opportunity, and the ability to take a little more time to recover from my previous neck fractures and prepare for racing. We have been talking about this transition for quite some time and now is the perfect time. I’m looking forward to my future with Husqvarna and the role I will have with them in their new efforts in Canada. I would like to send a special thanks to Bobby Hewitt, as well as everyone at Rockstar Energy and Husqvarna Motorcycles for their continued support through my career.”
Bobby Hewitt – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager: “I’m thrilled to have Dean join the team and proud that we’ve been able to finalize our Canadian program with Christophe. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Dean during his amateur years and I’m glad to be reunited with him. He will compete at the Supercross in Oakland but only had two days in order to get used to his new FC 450, so this will be a little challenge for sure. However, he has a positive attitude combined with a skill level that I feel confident once he gets used to the Husqvarna will allow him to compete at the highest level.
“Although I’d rather have Christophe racing the remainder of the Supercross season, I’m excited about the future for him and our program in Canada. Even though those plans were to begin in 2018 I want to thank everyone at Husqvarna Motorcycles and Rockstar Energy for their help in expediting those efforts in 2017. It is just another example of the dedication and commitment of Husqvarna and Rockstar to keep pushing our global partnership to new highs each year! I am thankful to everyone involved for being able to extend our racing efforts to Canada and add another quality rider to the team.”