Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1547087
RJ Hampshire Joins Troy Lee Designs Ducati R J Hampshire has officially signed to the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Fac- tory Racing team for 2027 and beyond. A new multi-year deal sees the former 250SX cham- pion jump to the Italian ma- chine after spending the past seven seasons with the Rock- star Energy Husqvarna squad. Hampshire is the first new rider for the TLD Ducati effort, as both Justin Barcia (Suzuki) and Dylan Ferrandis (retired) have departed the team for 2027. "I am super excited for this opportunity," said Hampshire. "I was interested right away so Ziggy [Rick Zielfelder] and Josh [Wisenor] were the first call. They wanted me here just as much as I wanted to be here. To start this relationship off with a newer team and a newer pro- gram, I am excited to give them my best for the next couple of years, be able to progress and put in the results. Super excited for this Ducati Desmo 450, had my first day on it and I'm stoked, and I'm walking away with a lot of positives. Riding for Troy Lee is something you always dream of as a kid and to have this opportunity at this point in my career I feel super blessed. I'm ready for this re- fresh and looking forward to 2027." "We are excited to have RJ joining the team," said Josh Wisenor, Troy Lee Designs race team manager. "It's exciting for us, myself and core team members that have previously worked with RJ in the past. In a way we are coming back together at a point in his career where he's more established as a racer and competitor as a top 450 premier-class athlete and past champion. The team as a whole has made good progress with the bike in the 2026 season, and someone of his caliber can take the team and the bike to the next level." CN WIND IN THE P28 RJ Hampshire has officially signed to the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing team for 2027 and beyond. SLR Honda Extends Contract With Mayla Herrick T he SLR Honda team has extended its relationship with WMX standout Mayla Herrick. Herrick turned pro on her 17th birthday earlier this summer at the High Point National and shook things up right away with a holeshot and a wire-to-wire win in the first moto. She grabbed two overall podiums in this year's Women's Motocross Championship (Unadilla and Ironman) and scored a Women's title at the Loretta Lynn's Amateur National Championship. The team announced she'll remain on a red ride alongside teammate Mikayla Nielsen for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. "WMX is such an exciting space in motocross right now," said team owner Mark Samuels. "With a growing audi- ence, stronger races, and live TV cover- age, these incredible women are finally getting the spotlight they deserve. We're eager to be part of this journey and help drive the sport forward." CN Mayla Herrick has extended her contract with SLR Honda for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.