Rockstar Energy Husqvarna announced their factory off-road racing team for the 2026 season. The roster remains mostly the same with familiar faces of Craig DeLong, Korie Steede, and Ryder LeBlond returning to the Husqvarna brand. Mateo Oliveira is the newest addition as he makes the switch over from the KTM team.
“Being in this new position, I’m really excited,” said Bobby Dawson, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Off-Road Team Manager. “Over the past five years, working as a mechanic and seeing how things operate in offroad racing across different series and events has been invaluable. Each series is a different style of racing, so attending all of those races gave me a broad perspective on what the management role actually involves. We have a great group of riders and mechanics on the team – I can’t wait to see what we can do at the races in 2026.”
Former GNCC Champion Craig DeLong continues with the team for 2026, with the 29-year-old Pennsylvania native riding the Husqvarna FX 350 in both the GNCC Series and the American National Enduro Championship Pro1 Class.
“I’m just looking forward to getting back up front and being in the battle again for 2026,” DeLong said. “This year, truthfully, I was off the back, and it’s not good when you’re there. The focus is on being up front, being in the fight, leading some laps, winning some races and putting myself in a good position again.”
Korie Steede claimed six round victories en route to her GNCC WXC title this year. Steede also captured the 2025 AMA U.S. Sprint Enduro Championship crown in the Pro Women category and was instrumental in Team USA’s FIM 6DAYS Women’s World Trophy Team victory once again. She’ll pilot a Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition in GNCC WXC competition wearing the number-one plate, alongside an American National Enduro schedule in the Pro Women division.
“Season 2025 was a year of all my dreams,” said Steede. “I’ve been dreaming of a year like this since I was probably six years old, so to win every championship that I lined up for was surreal, and it’s going to be hard to top, that’s for sure. This off-season, I’m going to have to work harder than ever because everyone’s going to come out swinging, and 2026 is going to be a good year.”
Oliveira makes his debut on the white bike in the NGPC series as well as going for another Western Hare Scramble championship.
“The year was solid!” said Oliveira. “I finally checked some boxes that I needed to check, led a lot of laps and stood on a lot of podiums. I think we were only off the podium twice, if you don’t count breaking my hand and missing a round, so it was kind of where I should have been the whole time. There are just a couple more things to do and we’re right there, so I feel like I belong at the front, and 2026 is going to be exciting. I’ve got a new bike and a new look head to toe, with a stronger mindset too. I was strong in 2025 and I know I’m going to be even stronger next year, so we’ll keep checking off those goals.”
Ryder LeBlond once again splits his time between the American National Hard Enduro Championship (formerly called the U.S. Hard Enduro) along with the EnduroCross series later in the year. He rode a Husqvarna TE 300 to fourth overall in the 2025 U.S. Hard Enduro Championship standings, including two Pro Class round victories. He also grabbed third place in the EX Pro Class of the AMA EnduroCross Championship on the Husqvarna FX 350 and earned a pair of overall podiums. He will continue in both series for 2026.
“2025 was a pretty good year,” LeBlond commented. “I started the Hard Enduro series strongly, then hit a bit of a rough patch midseason, but managed to turn things around in EnduroCross and put together my best season yet. We finished the year on a positive note, and now the focus is firmly on 2026.”
