Colt Nichols will join Honda HRC in 2023 as a teammate to Chase Sexton in the Monster Energy Supercross Series after the team and Ken Roczen failed to come to terms to extend their contract.
“I know I’ve been very quiet on here, but it’s been a wild few months since I started riding again In May,” Sexton said on Instagram. “Lots of ups and downs and unexpected things happened but life has a weird way of working sometimes.
“I am very excited for the next chapter with the Honda HRC crew, couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to transition into the 450 class. Can’t wait to learn and race against the best in the business. Let’s get to work!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CjlSllfpquF/
According to a press release from Honda, the deal is for Supercross only as brothers Jett and Hunter Lawrence race in the 250 class in SX competition. Jett is scheduled to take over this ride when the Lucas Oil Motocross season begins in May, 2023.
“I’m just thankful and blessed for this opportunity to come about,” Nichols said in that release. “It seemed like a longshot at first, and now for it to actually be real, I couldn’t be happier to be joining such a prestigious team and be on a factory Honda.
“I’ve always wanted to ride for this team, and they carry a very large and awesome legacy. I hope I can contribute to that, get some good results and help the team in any way I can. Moving to the 450 class and racing the best guys in the world will be fun and very challenging, but I’ve got a great teammate to learn from. I’m really excited to get to work and get this thing going.”
Nichols’ 2022 season in the 250 class was barely started when he crashed hard in the season opener in Anaheim. The 2021 250 East Supercross champion, Nichols sustained injuries to both arms when he crashed in one of the whoops sections as he moved over to the West division. His injury was suffered in his heat race and he had surgery on his arms later that day.
Nichols was not able to return for the Supercross season and chose to sit out of Motocross to further heal.