Yahoo Autos Craig looks ahead to Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing return in new role
After spending the last two SuperMotocross seasons with the factory Rockstar Energy Husqvarna FC450 team, Christian Craig has inked a new two-year deal with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing. Returning to the team with which the Californian won the 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX West Region Championship, Craig will race a Yamaha YZ450F in the next two seasons of SuperMotocross, while mentoring the team’s 250cc racers as a rider development coach.
“I’m so excited to be back with the Star Racing team and grateful that even after two years away, they still welcomed and believed in me,” said Craig.
Back with Star Racing, Craig is now totally comfortable with the reality of his old and new racing surroundings.
“Yeah, for sure I feel like I’m home,” said Craig. “I mean I don’t want to badmouth the past two years, but I guess the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, you know? I felt like I would be fine going to a different team and I learned really quick that I had it made where I was and had a really good system going here at Star. The past two years have kind of been a washout for me with injuries and struggling with finding my groove and struggling with the bike. I kind of lost confidence in myself and my ability to race and get back to the top. I’m excited that I was given this opportunity to come back.”
And back in a different way. Not only will Craig compete with the 450 in 2025, he’ll also be front and center in monitoring and encouraging Star Racing effort’s 250 program.
“It is kind of a different role this time,” explained Craig of his multifaceted position with the organization. “I’m excited for it. It is something different. It is something that I guess hasn’t been done in our sport yet. Anybody that kind of wants to reach out and wants some help or advice, I’m there. I’m obviously a little bit older and I’ve been through a lot, whether it was injuries, results, good or bad, and I’ve seen a lot of it all. I’ve watched some of the best guys and I’ve been teammates with some of the best, so I think Bobby Reagan saw that in me and thinks I can play a valuable role in helping grow the 250 team, while also letting me still race. I still feel like I have some time left in me and I definitely want to get some better results before I do hang up the boots.
“With the position that I’m now in, I feel like I can relax a little bit more. I’ll be back on a bike that I’m comfortable with and back with a program I’m comfortable with. Also, I’ll help the 250 team and kind of guide them the best that I can. I’m helping Haiden Deegan quite a bit, whether it is off the bike or on the bike. I’ll help anyone who wants to listen.
“I’m also trying to recover from my elbow surgeries from the past few years. I’m just building myself back up and it has been tough. I’m also dealing with a knee injury that I sustained at the last round of SMX. I haven’t got o ride the Yamaha yet. I’m pretty bummed, but hopefully here in December I will. It’s been a quick recovery. The knee has been getting stronger from physical therapy three times a week. I’ve been training as much as possible. I’ve dealt with much worse, but it is frustrating because I’m so excited to get back on the Yamaha and get going with the team. Just a little delay here, but it has been fun because I’ve still been busy and been able to do that coaching side of my job.”
A deadline Craig is totally centered on is Jan. 11, 2025 and the opening round of the 2025 Monster Energy Supercross Series in Anaheim. Still healing up and working on off-bike fitness, Craig is still not quite sure of his preseason status.
“Racing at Angel Stadium, that’s going to be tough,” pointed out Craig. “I definitely want to make it, but I’m going to probably have two or three weeks on the bike before that first round. You never say never, but I want to be 100-percent when I do come back. Who knows how I’ll feel on day one. Maybe I’ll feel better than I think and we go racing. I just know that when I do come back, I want to be ready.”
After placing eighth overall in this summer’s Pro Motocross Championship aboard the Husqvarna, Craig is very much looking forward to competing on the Yamaha YZ450F in the football and baseball stadiums of the nation when the curtain is lifted on the 2025 Monster Energy Supercross Series.
“The past two years, people forget that I have podiumed on the Yamaha 450F before. I’ve been upfront. I’ve led laps,” he said. “People quickly forget about that. I know it’s still in me. I’m excited to get back on the bike that I have posted up good results with and won a championship on. There are just all around good vibes and everyone on the team has welcomed me back in. it’s exciting. They all still believe in me and it is fun, for sure.
“I want to bring back that flash of speed that I used to have. I know I still have that in me. The sprint speed, whether it is winning some heat races or battling towards the front, is what I want to display. I want to give myself a chance. I feel like I haven’t had that in a while. I definitely have some more races in me and I just want to fight for some good positions and to give the team a good reason on why they hired me back.
“I’m excited to build back up and get going here. Obviously, these injuries I’ve had have slowed me up a little bit. However, I know that the last time I was on this bike, I did really well. Having that confidence helps a lot. Just being on a factory bike with some good teammates and good support, it is going to be huge. It’s up to me to bring back those good results for the team.”
