Image: Spencer Owens (Align Media).

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing fill-in Shane McElrath looks to build each weekend as he makes a long-awaited step to the premier 450MX class in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross.

McElrath secured the ride as a temporary replacement for the injured Dean Wilson and will be the sole representative for the squad in the opening rounds with Malcolm Stewart also sidelined.

“It is important [for the future] obviously, but I think for me, there’s only so much that I can do,” he commented. “Kind of going back, I’ve been on the bike for about two weeks now and prior to that I was off the bike for about two months. There’s still a lot of learning, a lot of progress that needs to be made and it’s going to take some time.

“For me, it’s just about starting out the best I can and I don’t really know what that is right now – it’s important to lay down a good foundation from the first round and something I can really build off of moving forward.

“I’m racing the first four rounds, I would like to hopefully be around for more, but that’s not really up to me right now, so I just need to go out and do the best that I can, work with the team, enjoy it most of all and make progress each time I’m on the track.”

Missing last year’s Pro Motocross series altogether, McElrath’s 2022 450SX campaign was then shortened when the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM team underwent major changes late in the season. The newly-signed FC 450 rider is determined to rise and make the most of what is – at this point – a four-race deal.

“I didn’t get to race last year and I haven’t raced the 450 on outdoors yet,” said McElrath. “I think it’s a big unknown, I have raced a lot of the guys out there for a lot of my career, but this a little bit different and a lot of new – new bike as of the last two weeks.

“Not a lot of time, but it has been a good time so far and I’m enjoying the learning curve. I think it is a big challenge ahead and something that I am excited to get to do. I will try to regroup, really.

“Where I have been the last couple of years, in my opinion, has kind of been subpar for myself and the level that I hold myself to. I’m looking forward to getting behind the gate and learning how to race the 450 outdoors and really try to just build on that each weekend and hopefully carry that into whatever that is.”

The 2022 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship takes off tomorrow at Fox Raceway, which is the first of 12 rounds. A return date for Wilson is unconfirmed, with Stewart expected to miss the first half of the season.