MotoConcepts | 2021 Supercross Riders Announced

October 31, 2020

The team announcements just keep coming and on October 30, SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts confirmed their plans for the 2021 season include the full Monster Energy Supercross Series and the possibility of participation at select rounds of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. The four-man roster will feature two returning riders and two new riders, as Justin Hill and Vince Friese will return to their posts and with new additions in Benny Bloss and Shane McElrath.

The independently-owned, Honda-supported team has established itself with solid riders and competitive equipment built by trusted industry partners in recent years. Malcolm Stewart’s departure at the end of the 2020 Supercross season meant that there was at least one open spot, while Justin Hill’s return to the squad seemed uncertain a few weeks ago, which lead to a rush of free agents vying for the team’s Honda CRF450Rs.

Benny Bloss, Shane McElrath, and Joey Savatgy have all ridden the team’s bike at tracks around Southern California, tests that the team posted about on their Instagram account. Talk that two of the riders could have been selected circulated through the industry, but few expected that would lead to the only four-man effort by a “premier” team in 2021.

Bloss and McElrath are both at key points in their careers and this chance at MotoConcepts could be just what they need to reaffirm their rank in the sport.

Bloss has been part of the 450 Class for quite some time, despite being just 22 years old, on a mix of equipment (most of the time was with Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/WPS/KTM, but there were also two terms with Rock River Yamaha and as a full-blown privateer during the 2020 Nationals). His speed and results at the seven Utah Supercross races in 2020 proved that he can run the pace of the top-five in the indoor series, something that the MCR team hopes to replicate next year.

McElrath, on the other hand, has pointed out of the 250 Class in Supercross. The 26-year-old has always been on factory-backed teams, including Troy Lee Designs and Star Racing, and was in contention for the 250 East Coast SX championship in 2020 (he finished second overall). There was a chance the AMA’s advancement rule would be amended due to the COVID-19 crisis, which would have allowed McElrath to stay on the small-bore bike for another year, but that ultimately did not come through. McElrath’s move to the 450 Class will add much more talent to an already stacked class.

Justin Hill will return for his second year with the team, which like we said earlier, is somewhat of a surprise. The rider and team had some success early in 2020, with Hill being the top qualifier and in contention for top-seven finishes from Anaheim One to Atlanta, then struggled to match the pace due to health and setup issues in Utah. He returned to the family home in Oregon over the summer and only recently started to post clips riding a Honda which was void of team branding. This, plus the public test sessions by other riders, intensified the talk that he would not return to his spot in 2021. All of this speculation was cleared up in the team’s announcement, though, and Hill will soon start his preseason prep.

Vince Friese has been with MotoConcepts for most of his career, from the early years when the team eliminated any sort of OEM branding from their bikes to their current working relationship with Honda. An excellent starter with a constant presence in the 450 Main Event, Friese’s return was always expected and he will again be in a battle for top-10/top-15 finishes next year.

There are two very unique details about MCR’s program for 2021, including their plan for the new Honda CRF450R and a potential return to the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. Although the new red bike is highly coveted, the slightly late arrival and limited inventory of models and aftermarket parts would lead to a lack of testing time, so they have decided to field Hill-Bloss-McElrath on the 2020 bike. Friese being the only rider on the new bike will give the team some much-needed feedback that will alleviate some of the stress that comes when multiple riders are expected to share their input, while the other three will be able to focus on getting the best results from an already-proven package.

As for the Pro Motocross races, this will be a decision made later in the year but seems somewhat likely. Bloss and McElrath are two riders known for their outdoor speed and truthfully, neither are established enough to run a Supercross-only program. The team could also use the participation in the Nationals as a bargaining tool for more support from Honda for future seasons.

The team’s press release, including quotes from team manager Tony Alessi, is posted in full below…

Smartop | Bullfrog Spas | MotoConcepts Racing (MCR) is pleased to announce its 2021 rider line-up as they welcome new and returning faces to the team.

MCR is excited to announce the addition of Shane McElrath to its 450 program. McElrath brings veteran experience and an impressive resume as he transitions from the 250 class to the 450 class for the 2021 season. The runner-up in the 2020 250SX West championship title and third place overall finisher in the 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series, McElrath is proven to be a consistent top-contender, capable of getting the job done. “I look forward to working with Shane as I think MCR’s top level-management and bike development team are going to allow him to succeed in what can often be a challenging period as a rider transitions from one class to another,” said MCR Team Owner, Mike Genova.

Also joining the team for the 2021 season is Missouri native and veteran 450 rider Benny Bloss. “Benny’s display of speed and whoop strength in the final rounds of the 2020 season allowed us to see the raw talent he possesses. We feel the MCR program will allow him improved starts, which will help put him up front, and the speed he possesses will keep him up front,” said Tony Alessi, MCR’s Team Manager.

Returning to the team following a top-ten overall finish in the 2020 Supercross season is Oregon native Justin Hill. The former 250 West Supercross Champion will return to the track aboard a 2020 CRF450R. “Justin displayed the commitment and hard work we expected to see last year, which showed in his speed, allowing him to secure eight top-ten finishes. We’re sure we’ll see an even higher-level from Justin in 2021,” said Genova.

Finishing out the 2021 rider line-up is returning MCR rider, Vince Friese. Because of Vince’s experience and knowledge, he will be an integral part of developing the 2021 Honda CRF450R to the level of MCR’s 2020 Honda CRF450R bikes.

In addition to the Monster Energy Supercross Series, MCR is committed to participating in some or all of the 2021 AMA Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series should rider health and world conditions allow. “Our mission in 2021 is to utilize the testing and development abilities of Vince Friese to turn the new model CRF 450 into a race-winning package for future seasons,” said Alessi.

The 2020 Monster Energy Supercross Series begins at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on January 16^th and travels the country concluding at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Utah at a date yet to be announced.