Image: Supplied.

A transition to the updated MC 450F with the new-look Rockstar Energy GasGas Factory Racing Team will finally see Justin Barcia adopt the latest generation frame ahead of the upcoming 2025 AMA Supercross season.

This past year saw Pierer Mobility Group – inclusive of the KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas brands – riders have the unique option to choose between two different frames in the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX).

An updated frame included on the 2024 specification ‘Factory Edition’ models marked an early introduction to the current frame that has been introduced on the base model for 2025, which effectively resulted in additional flex as a result of cut-outs around the shock mounting area.

Barcia – then part of the Troy Lee Designs-operated GasGas effort – opted not to race on the revised frame, instead sticking with the regular 2024 chassis throughout the entire season despite the Red Bull KTM team using the updated Factory Edition frame. With updates made to the complete production line-up entering 2025, using the new frame has become essential.

“Last year, I did try the frame,” Barcia recalled. “For me, and I think quite a few other guys, it just didn’t… we didn’t have enough time to make it what we needed it to be, but it seems like they worked all the bugs out.

“Obviously, KTM – Chase [Sexton] and Aaron [Plessinger] and those guys have been on it for a year, so when I got on it this year, [Husqvarna factory test rider Josh Hansen] did a lot of testing as well, and I felt pretty comfortable on it. I did my first test in California here, flew to Aldon [Baker’s] and the track was a lot more tore up.

“The first week I did definitely struggle a little bit, but the team flew down and it was literally just some suspension settings. We didn’t have to change any frame or geometry stuff like that, so all in all, the last month I’ve been on the same set-up.

“I’m pretty comfortable with it. Obviously, the speed picks up week after week, so I’m looking for probably a little bit stiffer setting now, just because I’m pushing harder and going faster, but for the most part, I’m quite happy with how things are going.”

Barcia will lead the new in-house Rockstar Energy-backed GasGas Factory Racing roster in 2025, once again as the brand’s only premier class entry, alongside 250SX duo Ryder DiFrancesco and Casey Cochran. The team will be managed by Sean Murphy, who has been the coordinator of Husqvarna’s official program in recent years.

With KTM and Husqvarna already unveiling their largely unchanged 2025 Factory Editions directly following the SMX team launches last week, GasGas is yet to formally announce its new up-spec model for the new season.