Kawasaki Officially Announces 2017 SX/MX Team

Cycle News Staff | December 14, 2016

Kawasaki Officially Announces 2017 SX/MX Team

Kawasaki reaffirmed its 2017 motocross and supercross teams: Eli Tomac and Josh Grant will make up the 450 factory Monster Energy Kawasaki Team, and Joey Savatgy, Adam Cianciarulo, Austin Forkner and Justin Hill will make up the 250 Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki racing team.

Kawasaki Officially Announces 2017 SX/MX Team

The following is a release from Kawasaki:

Foothill Ranch, CA (December 14, 2016) –Monster Energy Kawasaki will continue its championship winning ways with two-time champion Eli Tomac and returning in a full-time role, Josh Grant. After being crowned the 2012 250cc Monster Energy Supercross West Region Champion and 2013 250cc AMA Pro Motocross Champion, Tomac has added several 450 class supercross and motocross race wins to his impressive resume. Tomac now looks to put his KX™450F up on the top spot of the podium in 2017. Grant, beginning his ninth year in the premier class compliments the team with incredible talent and multiple motocross and supercross wins. Grant looks to continue his winning ways and battle his teammate for the championship. The Monster Energy Kawasaki racing team has been the most dominant supercross and motocross team in the last decade with a combined eight AMA titles.

“Our entire Monster Energy Kawasaki team is ready for the demands of the upcoming season,” said Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Manager Dan Fahie. “Preparation has been going great for both our riders heading into the 2017 season and we could not be happier with the progress the entire team has made during the off season.”

2016 marked a big change in Tomac’s career as he made the switch to Monster Energy Kawasaki. He earned four podiums and a win at Daytona, finishing the supercross season fourth overall. Tomac stepped up his game for the AMA Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship season, finishing on the podium eight times and capturing wins at Southwick and Washougal. He would finish second overall in the Pro Motocross Championship. Tomac went on to earn dominant back to back MXGP wins in Charlotte and Glen Helen, and claimed the prestigious 2016 Monster Energy Cup.

Josh Grant joined Monster Energy Kawasaki at Round 11 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM Championship, after Wil Hahn was injured earlier in the season. Grant would ride strong and consistent for the remaining seven races, gaining momentum for outdoors. Unfortunately, an injury held Grant back from riding to his full potential outdoors and was forced to retire from the motocross season at Round 4 after scoring as high as sixth overall at Glen Helen.

The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki racing team has their sights set on the top step of the podium for 2017 with a four-man squad. Joey Savatgy and Adam Cianciarulo return for their third and fourth year on the team, respectively. Following an impressive rookie Pro Motocross season, Austin Forkner makes his Monster Energy Supercross debut with Justin Hill rounding out the impressive roster. The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team is one of the winningest supercross and motocross teams in history with 29 AMA titles.

“We are looking forward to starting the 2017 season at full strength,” said Mitch Payton, Pro Circuit owner. “I know every one of our riders is capable of winning races and I expect nothing but the best from them every weekend.”

The Monster Energy Supercross season begins at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California on Saturday, January 7 and runs through the season finale on May 6 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.

Click HERE for more supercross/motocross news