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Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing has uncovered an expanded five-rider line-up for the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship, with 250 trio Ryder DiFrancesco, Casey Cochran, and Daxton Bennick joining 450 teammates Malcolm Stewart and RJ Hampshire.

Stewart, 33, will enter his fifth term with Husqvarna, looking to build upon a strong 2025 campaign after earning P4 in Monster Energy Supercross – which included a career first 450SX win at Tampa – and seventh in the Pro Motocross standings.

“It’s really, really exciting to be back with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna for 2026,” Stewart commented. “I feel like, for myself, it’s been a career year – these guys are awesome to work with, and I’m just really glad that we came to a mutual agreement to renew the deal into the new year.”

Joining Stewart in the premier division full-time is Hampshire, who at 29, delivered a standout first 450MX campaign that saw him record fourth overall before finishing seventh in the SMX standings. He will contest his first season of Supercross on the FC 450 Factory Edition in 2026.

“I’m really excited to get this new season kicked off in my first year on the 450 full-time,” outlined Hampshire. “It will be my first time racing Supercross on the 450, so it’s a new chapter in my career, and kind of like another fresh start for me. I can’t wait to get into the stadiums and get ready to go racing here at A1.”

Both DiFrancesco and Cochran will subtly move across from the Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing Team to the Husqvarna program for next year, while former Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider Bennick will join the team in 250SMX.

“I’m looking forward to the upcoming season with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna,” DiFrancesco said. “Especially based on the improvements that we made last year, just to apply what we learned for the season ahead. I’m excited to get back at the races, and even though it’s not a super-long off-season, I’m always excited to move forward and keep making progress in my career.”

The 2026 SMX championship will mark a reunion of sorts for 19-year-old Cochran, who was a long-time Husqvarna-supported amateur before making his pro debut with the factory team. An injury-riddled year in 2025 saw him post a season-high seventh overall at the Thunder Valley National.

“Super-stoked to be back on Rockstar Energy Husqvarna for 2026,” Cochran added. “It’s great to be back with the team and with a lot of familiar faces, so I’m looking forward to the upcoming season. We’ve got a good amount of time to get ready before Supercross, and I’m excited to get some good laps under my belt.”

Bennick, also 19, will make a sizable shift during his career’s early stages, departing Star Racing after three seasons together and joining the Austrian manufacturer for 2026. He spent much of his amateur career within the KTM Group, now arriving on the FC 250 Factory Edition for 2026.

“I really like the bike so far, and I’m enjoying the new team – it’s all going really well,” Bennick explained. “I’m really happy with everything, and I’m super-excited to learn as a team, keep improving together. We’re pumped up and ready to do this in 2026.”

The season-opening round of Monster Energy Supercross will commence under the lights of Anaheim’s Angel Stadium on January 10, giving riders just over seven weeks before the first gate drop of the 2026 championship.