T-Dog’s Takes: Privateer Silly Season Update

Notice that this column now has a sponsor? That’s right! Troy Dog joined the Blu Cru and you should too! I have one in my garage right now and I can’t wait to go shred it! Thank you to Yamaha for believing in my ELITE columns on this dirt bike website enough to sponsor me. What a dream come true! BTW: Have you seen the all-new YZ450F? OH. MY. GOODNESS. I can’t wait to test that bad boy.

The offseason is almost over and some of the privateers and smaller teams are in shambles as they prepare for the season ahead. Since we’ve covered the bigger teams in our team preview columns, I thought it’d only be fair to round up as many privateers as I could and see what they have going on for 2023. The riders on this list are the heart of the sport and some of them could end up on a team for next season. Robbie Wageman made his way off of this list this year! Here is the rundown…

41 — Derek Kelley
The Troy Dog Squad’s own DK Dog will be back with the AEO Powersports KTM Team for 2023.

42 — Joshua Varize
Varize will be Kelley’s teammate at AEO Powersports KTM.

44 — Benny Bloss
Benny signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and will be a wide receiver for their playoff run. Oh, and he signed on with the Rock River Yamaha team for 450SX.

46 — Justin Hill
Hill signed with Team Tedder to compete in 450SX.

47 — Fredrik Noren
Fast Freddie is riding for Bubba Pauli’s Madd Parts Kawasaki team in 450SX. 

57 — Chris Blose
Blose was supposed to retire last season, but is back with AJE Motorsports for another 250SX West Region run.

Update: Blose is NOT racing in 2023.

60 — Justin Starling
The Troy Dog Squad’s own Star Dog will continue with his successful program. Starling will compete for the top 450SX privateer on his FXR/General Grind & Machine/JSR Motorsports ride.

61 — Ryan Breece
After an incredible run in 450SX in 2022, Breece will not be racing SMX in 2023. He told me that he’s recouping from the year that was.

62 — Jace Owen
Owen is back with Phoenix Racing Honda and will be racing 250SX.

66 — Henry Miller
Miller will race the 250SX East Region for TiLube Honda.

67 — Cullin Park
Park is back with the Phoenix Racing Honda team for his sophomore season of 250SX.

68 — Cade Clason
Cade is back with the Partzilla/PRMX team on Kawasaki’s in 450SX.

70 — Justin Rodbell
Rodbell unfortunately tore his achilles and will most likely miss all of Monster Energy SX.

71 — Preston Kilroy
Kilroy and long time sponsor Bar X Suzuki are no longer working together in 2023. Kilroy has been riding a Yamaha down at ClubMX to get ready for 250SX.

73 — John Short
Short will be riding 450SX on a Madd Parts Kawasaki.

74 — Logan Karnow
Karnow bagged an OnlyFans sponsorship, which is a place that only sells fans I believe. He’ll be a full-time 450 guy on his OF Kawasaki. 

76 — Dominique Thury
Thury is racing the 250SX West Region for Team Solitaire.

77 — Ryan Surratt
Surratt is currently racing offroad enduros.

78 — Grant Harlan
Hawaii’s own and the T-Dog Squad’s own Har Dog is racing 450SX on a Yamaha. He wants to announce his deal when he’s ready. He has one week to do so. 

79 — Dylan Walsh
Walsh will race 250SX (assuming West) on a Revo Grindstone Kawasaki.

80 — Kevin Moranz
Moranz will continue his own program and race 450SX on his Moranz Mafia KTM. 

83 — Cole Thompson
Cole will race 250SX West on Team Solitaire.

84 — Mitchell Harrison
The Michigan native will race 250SX West on an AJE Motorsports ride.

86 — Josiah Natzke
Natzke will be racing 250SX East on a Partzilla/PRMX Kawasaki.

89 — Kaeden Amerine
Amerine will be racing 250SX West on a Rides Unlimited/RMATV MC Racing KTM.

90 — Tristan Lane
Lane will race 450SX on his own program with help from Silverbak Racing, American Recycling Center, Next Level Racing, FXR, SKDA, and several other loyal sponsors. 

91 — Jeremy Hand
Hand will race the 250SX East Region on a Valley Ford Truck/SKDA Honda.

93 — Jerry Robin
Robin will race 250SX West for AJE Motorsports. 

95 — Lance Kobusch
Kobusch has been racing some arenacross, but will turn his attention to 250SX on his STR Honda.

97 — Devin Harriman
Harriman will race 250SX on a Motosport Hillsboro KTM. 

98 — Geran Stapleton
The Australian will race 250SX on a GASGAS with help from Seven and SKDA.

99 — Hardy Munoz
Munoz will race the 250SX East Coast on a Namura/Invictus Speed Crew 

140 — Alex Ray
ARay is back on Blu Cru, racing 450SX, with help from Swap Moto Live and Maxxis Tires, and O’Neal.

141 — Richard Taylor
Taylor will be getting help from the Madd Parts Kawasaki team. He’s not on the team officially, but he will be getting help and pitting with them.

170 — Devin Simonson
Simonson will race 250SX East on a Partzilla/PRMX Kawasaki.

173 — Hunter Schlosser
The Schlossman will be racing the 250SX West Region on a Yamaha.

174 — Luca Marsalisi
Luca told us that he signed on with the Rock River Yamaha team to race 250SX East.

192 — Jack Chambers
Chambers is back with the Rides Unlimited/RMATV MC Racing team in 250SX.

219 — Chase Marquier
Marquier will race 450SX on a Partzilla/PRMX Kawasaki.

243 — Caden Braswell
Braswell enters his rookie season of 250SX with Phoenix Honda.

260 — Dylan Woodcock
Woodcock will be back racing Supercross this season on a GASGAS, I’m assuming 250 West.

285 — Coty Schock
After sitting out all of 2022 with injury, Schock is taking his longtime friend/mechanic Tony Archer’s racing number and will be doing 250SX with Phoenix Honda.

330 — AJ Catanzaro
AJ Cat is racing the 250SX East Region on his The Moto Academy Honda.

364 — Chad Saultz
Saultz will race his Rides Unlimited/RMATV MC Racing KTM in 250 SX.

460 — Michael Hicks
Hicks will race some 250SX East rounds after the General Tire Arenacross Series finishes up.

500 — Julien Benek
Benek will race 250SX West on a Partzilla/PRMX Kawasaki. 

508 — Hunter Yoder
Yoder will race 250SX West on a Partzilla/PRMX Kawasaki.

519 — Josh Cartwright
Cartwright is racing 450SX on a Psychic Motorsports/T3 Civil/Ronnie Prado/Cardinal Kawasaki.

625 — Jonah Geistler
Jonah will compete for Rides Unlimited/RMATV MC Racing in 250SX.

751 — Josh Hill
Hill will race 450SX on Team Tedder.

848 — Joan Cros
Joan will race 450SX on a Namura/Invictus Speed Crew Kawasaki.

981 — Austin Politelli
Politelli will race the 250SX West on an AJE Motorsports ride.

TBD — Jorge Zaragoza
The rider from Spain will race 250SX East on a Namura/Invictus Speed Crew Husqvarna. 

Josh Osby is finished racing as Steve Matthes reported earlier this month.

Main image: Team Tedder