In a shocking development, Josh Hansen announced last night that he will be contesting the entire Monster Energy Arenacross tour in the UK in 2016.
Hansen made the surprising announcement at the 2016 tour launch at the Motorcycle Live at the NEC, Birmingham.
“I’m pumped at the prospect of a new challenge and at competing in the UK,” Hansen said. “I know the guys back home just won’t get it and that will drive me on even more. I see the Arenacross series as going places and I want to be a part of that. I reckon that after this, the gates will open and the British series will be flooded with Americans!”
In 2015, Hansen, 31, returned to Monster Energy Supercross under his own team—Team 100—competing in a full season for the first time since the 2013. He finished fourteenth in the 250SX West Region with a season-high of fourth in San Diego.
In October, in a MotoSport.com video, Hansen said he was expecting to do his own deal again in 2016. “As far as next year, 2016, I’m looking at trying to do my own team, same thing next year (2016),” Hansen said in the video. “First year is always kind of a little bit of a mess—getting to know what’s right from wrong. I was able to learn that this year.”
The final round of the UK Areancross series is February 27, the same night as the 250SX East Region opener in Atlanta, making it likely that Hansen will not return to Monster Energy Supercross next season.
Series promoter Matt Bates of e22sports added: “We are delighted to confirm that Josh will contest the full eleven-round series and we’re sure it’s going to be explosive. The series is now crammed with racing talent and I wouldn’t like to place a bet on the outcome; it is wide open and is set to be ultra-competitive. The fact that Josh has chosen our Monster Energy Arenacross Tour over the American supercross series is really the icing on the cake!”
