Current two-time 250SX East champion Chase Sexton has paid tribute to the outgoing Geico Honda team that he has enjoyed so much success with prior to landing his 2021 contract with Team Honda HRC.

It became apparent at last weekend’s Lucas Oil Pro Motocross finals that the Factory Connection-operated team wouldn’t be able to continue following the loss of title sponsor Geico and that was confirmed this week.

For Sexton, who won his first-career 450MX moto and overall at Fox Raceway on Saturday, it was a bittersweet moment to see the iconic Geico Honda team – American Honda’s longtime factory 250 class program – exit the sport altogether.

“It’s super-sad to see a team as good as they are [go away],” Sextons said. “They’ve obviously given me so much, winning two championships for them, but they’ve supported me since I was an amateur and it’s definitely sad to see that go. It couldn’t have been worse timing in this whole pandemic and then Geico pulling out, I feel for a lot of the guys and have given me so much, like I said.

“They have helped jump-start so many careers in this industry, so to see them not have a team next year is kind of hard to really believe – it’s hard to see these guys go through this. I just hop that everyone works out in the end, everyone can get jobs and the riders that aren’t going to have a ride there anymore, that they get rides. I definitely feel for them and everybody within the team.”

Sexton had spent the final stages of his amateur career with Factory Connection prior to turning professional during 2017. From there, once experience was built, the pair went on the capture the Monster Energy Supercross 250SX East championships together in 2019 and successfully defending that title in 2020 before he transitioned into HRC for the outdoors.