Two Riders, One Legacy: McElrath Adds to Quad Lock Honda’s 450 Privateer Story!
American Honda’s privateer effort deserves recognition—too often, its impact goes unnoticed. But moments like last night are proof that they don’t just support racing—they fuel dreams with unwavering belief and dedication.
Shane McElrath’s emotional podium in Foxborough will be remembered. It marked his first-ever 450SX podium finish and also included his first 450 heat race win. The last time a privateer stood on the podium in the premier class was in 2021—Justin Brayton, on a Honda, with the same team.
McElrath’s journey in the 450 class hasn’t been easy. Despite multiple wins and overall runner-up finishes in the 250 division, the last five years have tested his resilience—plagued by injuries and frequent team changes. But now, with Quad Lock Honda, McElrath feels he’s found his place.
“It’s definitely been a challenging road. There were a lot of questions and doubts, but after five tough years, I’ve found a team where everything just clicks. I joined Quad Lock Honda last year for WSX and Australian Supercross, and right away, I saw how committed they were. This result is just the beginning—we’re building something together,” said McElrath.
From qualifying through to the final, McElrath looked poised and confident.
“Martin and I talked after a great week, and we agreed not to touch the bike—repetition and consistency have been our focus. I felt good. We’ve also been doing a lot of mental work—being race-ready, even for practice days. Tonight was muddy, sure, but I was prepared. Tuesday’s training was tough too, and I think that helped sharpen me for this result,” he added.
In a full-circle moment, McElrath reflected on the connection with Justin Brayton, the last privateer podium finisher with the team in 2021.
“That’s such a cool stat. I actually spoke with Brayton a lot last year while deciding whether to go race in Australia and join the team. I’m so glad I listened. It’s been an incredible journey,” said McElrath.
Brayton, who won five Australian championships with the team, earned a Paris Supercross podium, and stood on the AMA Supercross podium with them in 2021, shared his pride in McElrath and the team’s ongoing evolution.
“This is such a massive achievement for Shane and the team. I know firsthand the effort they put in, and to see how far they’ve come in just five years is remarkable. I told Yarrive back in 2020 to chase his dream and come to America. We’ve had a lot of success together in Australia, and seeing this happen now—it makes me proud. Martin and Yarrive are doing an incredible job,” said Brayton.
On the flip side, it was a night to forget for the team’s other 450 rider, Joey Savatgy. Despite qualifying 10th, crashes in both the heat race and LCQ kept him from advancing to the main.
“No excuses. I just made too many mistakes. The conditions were tough, races were shortened, and once you go down, it’s hard to come back from it. I’m really disappointed for the team and our sponsors. It’s good to be back racing, but this wasn’t what we came for. We’ll regroup and be ready for Philadelphia,” said Savatgy.
For more information on the series, visit www.supercrosslive.com.
For team updates, visit www.quadlockhonda.com.
Photos: Michael Antonovich
