After six seasons of contesting Monster Energy Supercross, Quad Lock Honda has undergone a series of evolutions, both on the results sheet and in terms of its presence within the paddock. From podium finishes to red plates, the team has continued to grow into what is now a full-time SMX effort in 2025, inclusive of Pro Motocross for the first time ever.

Beginning in the winter of 2020, riders Mitchell Oldenburg and Luke Clout embarked on the organization’s first entry into American Supercross, with the then-branded Penrite Honda Racing team – which was largely an extension of Yarrive Konsky’s Australian operation – competed in the 250SX West division.

Its strength would develop over the following seasons, expanding into the 450SX class with Justin Brayton the very next year, this time with the support of Muc-Off for 2021. A podium finish at the Houston Supercross round – which was the team’s second-ever start in the premier division – was proof that the potential was there, and Brayton was a fine fit following on from his success in Australia.

The appointment of multi-time 250SX race winner, Martin Davalos, to run the program was yet another milestone, as the team reverted to a 250SX-only team once more, in 2022 entering the eastern division upon finding a home at the Georgia-based Millsaps Training Facility (MTF). By 2023 and into 2024, the recruitment of Dean Wilson saw the team importantly back in 450SX.

Image: Octopi Media.

An expanded 450SX assault followed for this year, with Joey Savatgy and Shane McElrath completing the premier class roster, while Carson Mumford – who has been largely absent through injury – was signed for 250SX East. In addition, the blue, black, and white branding of mount company Quad Lock came onboard as title sponsor, creating what is now formally known as Quad Lock Honda.

“Since 2020, the team has remained focused on delivering more than just participation, we’ve aimed to be competitive at every level,” team founder Konsky told MotoOnline. “In only our second season, we earned a podium in the 450 Supercross class, and have since competed in select Pro Motocross rounds and even the Motocross of Nations (MXoN).

“The level of frequency and commitment is demanding, and it places immense pressure on our people, parts, and planning. But before we could ask for increased support, we had to prove we could execute at the top level.”

Executing at the top level they have, with Max Anstie having held the championship leader’s red plate during the opening stages of the 250SX East series in 2024, while McElrath and Savatgy both posted a sequence of top 10 results throughout Supercross this year – headlined by Shane’s P2 result in Foxborough’s rain-affected main event.

Image: Octopi Media.

With the introduction of the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) post-season in 2023, the paddock has since been on notice that lining up in both the Supercross championship and Pro Motocross is pivotal to earn a position inside the top 20 once the points are combined, which solidifies a place on the grid for the playoffs.

This inception has created a unique dilemma for the team, because in order to attract top-level commercial partners and rider talent, it’s been evident that participation in SMX is vital in earning the signatures of both.

“With the introduction of the SMX playoffs, it became clear that maintaining a year-round presence was essential, not only to provide consistent value and visibility for our sponsors but also to create more meaningful opportunities for our riders to grow and solidify their place in the sport,” added Konsky. “This was ultimately a commercial decision based on continuity, consistency, and credibility.”

The team – while standing firmly on its own feet – is part of Konsky’s wider Honda ecosphere that encompasses professional racing in Australia as a full-factory team, and in the World Supercross Championship (WSX), of which the premier class title was won with Ken Roczen in 2022. Anstie (2023) and McElrath (2024) have also clinched WSX SX2 titles with the team.

Image: Octopi Media.

It’s an extensive program, and one that can leave you scratching your head at times as to how they pull it off. Nevertheless, they do, and collectively, they do a solid job. The Quad Lock Honda program this year in the United States has announced itself as a firm presence in the pits as well as on track, especially with the visibility provided by both McElrath and Savatgy toward the front of the field on numerous occasions.

Is it a sustainable model, going up against the OEM factory giants in the US, though? That is yet to be seen. However, as it stands today, the team unequivocally provides a unique platform for riders of all sorts, with an abundance of opportunities across a variety of championships – and countries.

“When you factor in our involvement in WMX – with Charli Cannon – and the World Supercross Championship, it’s fair to say that we’re delivering one of the most extensive and high-profile platforms available to any rider, team, and sponsors,” Konsky continued. “The alliance between American Honda and Honda Australia further reinforces our reach, with riders competing across both programs and representing Honda on two continents.

“We’re not sure if it’s fully sustainable in the long term, but we’re committed to evaluating everything after the SMX championship. The ultimate goal is to ensure that everyone involved, our sponsors, riders, and staff, has a clear path to achieving their goals through this program.”