Former MXGP regular Benoit Paturel will make his full-time 450MX debut when the 2025 Pro Motocross Championship commences this weekend at Fox Raceway, with the Frenchman joining Colt Nichols on the Twisted Tea Suzuki team.

Paturel, 30, is a GP race winner and was part of France’s victorious Motocross of Nations team in 2016. Now based in the US, Paturel will join the Larry Brooks-managed HEP Motorsports program as it prepares for the 11-round outdoor campaign.

“I am very excited to compete in my first full season of American motocross,” commented Paturel. “I have been testing on the motorcycle, and I am adapting well to the Suzuki platform. [I] can’t describe this feeling and am excited to get started this weekend.”

Returning rider Nichols will also line up aboard the RM-Z450, looking to carry momentum into the summer after a solid Monster Energy Supercross campaign that resulted in a 13th place overall finish.

“The motocross season is long and challenging after a tough Supercross campaign,” added Brooks. “The summer motos will test the team’s strength and I feel we have prepared well coming into the start of the motocross season. Colt is ready and Benoit is a fresh face with a ton of experience.”

HEP regular Ken Roczen, who missed the final 450SX rounds through injury, is targeting select Pro Motocross appearances later in the season pending his recovery. Kyle Chisholm will skip the outdoors, set to return for the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) post-season.