After spending the final two SuperMotocross seasons with the manufacturing unit Rockstar Vitality Husqvarna FC450 workforce, Christian Craig has inked a brand new two-year cope with Monster Vitality Yamaha Star Racing. Returning to the workforce with which the Californian gained the 2022 Monster Vitality AMA Supercross 250SX West Area Championship, Craig will race a Yamaha YZ450F within the subsequent two seasons of SuperMotocross, whereas mentoring the workforce’s 250cc racers as a rider improvement coach.
“I’m so excited to be again with the Star Racing workforce and grateful that even after two years away, they nonetheless welcomed and believed in me,” stated Craig.
Again with Star Racing, Craig is now completely snug with the truth of his previous and new racing environment.
“Yeah, for certain I really feel like I’m dwelling,” stated Craig. “I imply I don’t need to badmouth the previous two years, however I suppose the grass isn’t at all times greener on the opposite aspect, ? I felt like I’d be nice going to a unique workforce and I realized actually fast that I had it made the place I used to be and had a extremely good system going right here at Star. The previous two years have form of been a washout for me with accidents and battling discovering my groove and battling the bike. I form of misplaced confidence in myself and my skill to race and get again to the highest. I’m excited that I used to be given this chance to come back again.”
And again otherwise. Not solely will Craig compete with the 450 in 2025, he’ll even be entrance and middle in monitoring and inspiring Star Racing effort’s 250 program.
“It’s form of a unique function this time,” defined Craig of his multifaceted place with the group. “I’m excited for it. It’s one thing totally different. It’s one thing that I suppose hasn’t been finished in our sport but. Anyone that form of desires to achieve out and desires some assist or recommendation, I’m there. I’m clearly just a little bit older and I’ve been by means of loads, whether or not it was accidents, outcomes, good or unhealthy, and I’ve seen a number of all of it. I’ve watched among the finest guys and I’ve been teammates with among the finest, so I feel Bobby Reagan noticed that in me and thinks I can play a invaluable function in serving to develop the 250 workforce, whereas additionally letting me nonetheless race. I nonetheless really feel like I’ve a while left in me and I positively need to get some higher outcomes earlier than I do cling up the boots.
“With the place that I’m now in, I really feel like I can loosen up just a little bit extra. I’ll be again on a motorcycle that I’m snug with and again with a program I’m snug with. Additionally, I’ll assist the 250 workforce and form of information them the most effective that I can. I’m serving to Haiden Deegan fairly a bit, whether or not it’s off the bike or on the bike. I’ll assist anybody who desires to hear.
“I’m additionally making an attempt to recuperate from my elbow surgical procedures from the previous few years. I’m simply constructing myself again up and it has been robust. I’m additionally coping with a knee harm that I sustained on the final spherical of SMX. I haven’t obtained o journey the Yamaha but. I’m fairly bummed, however hopefully right here in December I’ll. It’s been a fast restoration. The knee has been getting stronger from bodily remedy 3 times per week. I’ve been coaching as a lot as doable. I’ve handled a lot worse, however it’s irritating as a result of I’m so excited to get again on the Yamaha and get going with the workforce. Just a bit delay right here, nevertheless it has been enjoyable as a result of I’ve nonetheless been busy and been ready to do this teaching aspect of my job.”
A deadline Craig is completely centered on is Jan. 11, 2025 and the opening spherical of the 2025 Monster Vitality Supercross Sequence in Anaheim. Nonetheless therapeutic up and dealing on off-bike health, Craig continues to be not fairly certain of his preseason standing.
“Racing at Angel Stadium, that’s going to be robust,” identified Craig. “I positively need to make it, however I’m going to most likely have two or three weeks on the bike earlier than that first spherical. You by no means say by no means, however I need to be 100-percent after I do come again. Who is aware of how I’ll really feel on day one. Possibly I’ll really feel higher than I feel and we go racing. I simply know that after I do come again, I need to be prepared.”
After inserting eighth total on this summer time’s Professional Motocross Championship aboard the Husqvarna, Craig could be very a lot wanting ahead to competing on the Yamaha YZ450F within the soccer and baseball stadiums of the nation when the curtain is lifted on the 2025 Monster Vitality Supercross Sequence.
“The previous two years, folks neglect that I’ve podiumed on the Yamaha 450F earlier than. I’ve been upfront. I’ve led laps,” he stated. “Folks shortly neglect about that. I do know it’s nonetheless in me. I’m excited to get again on the bike that I’ve posted up good outcomes with and gained a championship on. There are simply throughout good vibes and everybody on the workforce has welcomed me again in. it’s thrilling. All of them nonetheless imagine in me and it’s enjoyable, for certain.
“I need to deliver again that flash of velocity that I used to have. I do know I nonetheless have that in me. The dash velocity, whether or not it’s successful some warmth races or battling in direction of the entrance, is what I need to show. I need to give myself an opportunity. I really feel like I haven’t had that shortly. I positively have some extra races in me and I simply need to struggle for some good positions and to provide the workforce a superb motive on why they employed me again.
“I’m excited to construct again up and get going right here. Clearly, these accidents I’ve had have slowed me up just a little bit. Nonetheless, I do know that the final time I used to be on this bike, I did rather well. Having that confidence helps loads. Simply being on a manufacturing unit bike with some good teammates and good assist, it will be big. It’s as much as me to deliver again these good outcomes for the workforce.”
