Slaw
If you have never listened to a podcast or post-race interview with Michael Mosiman, please stop reading this, go watch or listen, and then come back.
Michael is a gem. Articulate, funny, yet different. The kind of dude that may ask you about chess instead of dirt bikes.
If you don’t know, Mosiman was retired from racing. Finished. He had a party (not three like Phil), filled with balloons and cake and chess. Okay, that last part has not been verified, but Mosiman was hanging it up.
Walking Away and His Return
Without a deal for 2024, Mosiman joined Monster Energy/Yamaha Star Racing prior to Seattle Supercross late in the season on what was announced as a multi-year deal. Although he went down with an injury in Supercross, Mosiman was looking to compete in Pro Motocross with the team. While testing prior to the opener at Fox Raceway, he had another crash and sustained fractures in his neck. It was then, he decided he was done racing.
Later that year, doctors told Mosiman that he was at no further risk of injury once the fractures healed, and he could return to racing.
He was back!
Not Done…
For 2025, Mosiman was back with Star, but he had to rebuild and try to return to the speed that once saw him challenging Christian Craig and Hunter Lawrence for the 2022 250SX West Region title. Supercross went well this year, as he finished 7th in the 250SX West Division, highlighted by a return to the podium in Arlington.
More of the same—rebuilding—was expected in Pro Motocross, as Mosiman hadn’t raced outdoors since the 2023 Hangtown Motocross Classic. He started a bit slow with 8-10-14-15 finishes to begin the season, but he was also battling an illness. Following High Point, team owner Bobby Regan—known for his strong words used to motivate riders (ask Max Anstie or listen to any Cooper Webb interview on the subject)—told Mosiman he should retire and go work for his dad… for the second time this year!
“I’m just way more mentally strong. Bobby Regan told me I should retire at High Point,” Mosiman told Racer X’s Mitch Kendra. “I’m fine. I’m committed to the program, and I believe in myself and believe in what I’m doing. I’m going to stay the course. If he wants to keep me around, awesome. And if someone else sees the opportunity, that’s awesome too. It’s the second time he’s told me to retire this year. He told me to retire and go work for my dad.”
[Go watch the full interview with Mitch Kendra—it’s great!]
Well, like with Anstie, this fired Mosiman up, as he’s since gone 4-3 at Southwick and RedBud and is currently sixth in points. Following RedBud, Mosiman talked more about those comments and his status with the team for 2026 and beyond:
“That was a few weeks ago,” Mosiman said. “He’s—yeah—we’re on fine terms. Bobby and I… I enjoy hanging out with him and spending time with him, so, yeah, I think that things are looking better and better for me to stay there. So, that’s exciting. But obviously, looking at my options… I’ve got to keep options open because it’s certainly not a done deal. And, yeah, he told me I need to go out and perform. And I said, ‘That’s pretty much what I understood.’ You know, that’s how this works. [Laughs] So, yeah, I’ve been performing and just trying to ride with a level head and put in consistent, solid rides. And try not to overreach, and it’s been working for me. So, I’m going to continue that and hopefully end up back there next year.”
Whether Mosiman returns to Star or not in 2026, he’s back to the speed that made him such a hot commodity a few years ago—and that’s great to see.
Photos: octopi.media
They need to look at Thrasher time to let him go. Cant believe they’d rather keep him over Daxton. Daxton young and has great potential. Thrasher is older and has done the same thing year over year. They have to keep Michael as well. Hes been the third best guy on their pro team.