Image: Supplied.

Twisted Tea Suzuki has picked up Colt Nichols for the remainder of the 2024 season, set to debut at the Unadilla National in a deal that will extend through the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) post-season.

While he will join Shane McElrath and Kyle Chisholm this year, the HEP Motorsports-operated team and Nichols also have an option in place to extend into 2025 onboard the factory-backed RM-Z450.

“I’m very excited to be joining the HEP Suzuki team,” Nichols commented. “It’s pretty cool to get to sign in 2024, get some races under our belt this year, iron out a few things and hopefully come into 2025 swinging.

“I’m very happy to be a part of the team and am grateful for the opportunity to get to work with the staff and the bike to get this whole thing figured out.”

After riding as a fill-in at Team Honda HRC last year during Monster Energy Supercross, Nichols signed to ride with Beta for 2024, but parted ways on mutual terms last month. That contract had initially included 2025, but the decision to split left 2021 250SX East title winner Nichols as a free-agent.

“The team is thrilled to have an athlete of Colt’s caliber join the team,” HEP Motorsports team principal Dustin Pipes explained. “Being a former [250SX] champion, Colt has the talent and pedigree to race his Suzuki RM-Z450 to great results.

“In the short time we have worked together, Colt has been very insightful and contributory on how to improve the motorcycle as we progress throughout this partnership. I look forward to seeing Colt on the starting line.”