Phoenix Racing Honda has its first confirmed piece of a rebuilt 250 program. The Salisbury, North Carolina team announced on October 27 that Avery Long will join the team for the 2027 season, racing the Honda CRF250R in the 250 class across AMA Supercross, Pro Motocross and the SuperMotocross World Championship — with his Supercross campaign set for the 250SX East Region.
Long, who will run number 53 with his new team, arrives after two seasons with AEO Powersports KTM Racing. The move returns him to Honda — the brand he raced as an amateur — to the East Coast, and into one of the most experienced independent Honda programs in the paddock.
"An Opportunity I Couldn't Pass Up"
In the team's announcement, Long framed the move as the convergence of timing, geography and machinery.
"I'm excited to be joining Phoenix Racing Honda for the 2027 season. I'm grateful for the opportunity and looking forward to becoming part of the team," Long said. "Between being based back on the East Coast, working with a strong and experienced technical staff, and having the chance to get back on a Honda, signing with Phoenix was an opportunity I couldn't pass up."
Long was candid about the season he is leaving behind. "The 2026 season had its challenges, especially with battling illness, but there were still plenty of positives. I had moments where I showed that I have the speed to consistently compete inside the top ten, and I feel like I had moments where I could push enough to even be top-five. That's the level I'm aiming for in 2027, and I believe Phoenix Racing Honda is the right place to help me reach those goals."
Team owner David Eller, who first met Long and his family at Loretta Lynn's four or five years ago, pointed to character as much as speed. "He's a talented young rider with a lot of potential, but there's more to him than just what he does on the track," Eller said. "He's a humble kid who comes from a great family, and that's something I've always appreciated about him. We feel like he's a great fit for what we're building at Phoenix Racing, and our goal is to give him the equipment and support he needs to keep improving and take that next step in his career."
Team manager Gary Schlentz added that he had watched Long closely throughout the 2026 season, particularly during Pro Motocross. "Seeing him fight to rebuild himself as the year progressed, I was impressed by the grit and determination he showed," Schlentz said. "He's young, has a lot of potential, and, most importantly, has the work ethic and determination to succeed."
Built Through the Amateur Ranks
Long first made his name as one of the country's top amateurs, earning the AMA Amateur Rider of the Year award in 2022. His amateur career included time on Hondas with the Chaparral/FXR Honda program, so the CRF250R is familiar territory rather than a leap into the unknown.
He turned professional at the start of 2025 with AEO Powersports KTM Racing, putting together several top-15 finishes as a rookie and earning a return for 2026. His second season delivered his first career top-ten finish at Anaheim 1 in January and a 13th-place finish in the 250SX West standings. Illness then disrupted the first half of his Pro Motocross campaign, but he rebuilt through the summer, closing the outdoor season with six consecutive top-20 overall finishes.
It is that trajectory — a rider whose underlying speed has repeatedly surfaced through disrupted seasons — that Phoenix is betting on. And 2027 brings a structural change in his favor: after two seasons in the West, Long switches coasts to contest the 250SX East Region for the first time, with his Phoenix debut scheduled for the East opener in Tampa.
A Program Being Rebuilt Around Him
The signing lands at a moment of genuine transition for Phoenix Racing Honda. The team's entire 2026 250 trio has departed: Gavin Towers and Evan Ferry have moved to the new ROKiT Partzilla PRMX Yamaha program, and Cullin Park confirmed his departure at the end of September. Long is therefore not a depth addition to an established roster — he is the first confirmed building block of the team's next 250 lineup, with further roster announcements still to come.
That gives both sides something they need. Phoenix, a Honda-backed program founded in 2012 and based in Salisbury, gets a young rider with two full professional seasons, a decorated amateur background and clear headroom. Long gets an experienced technical staff, an East Coast base, and a team whose manager has publicly committed to building around his development.
Whether the bet pays off will be measured against Long's own stated targets: consistent top tens, with top-five speed turned into top-five results. His first chance to make that case comes when the 250SX East Region opens in Tampa, with a full Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross campaign to follow.
Follow every confirmed move in our 2027 Team Lineups hub and the 2027 Rider Moves tracker.
Source: Phoenix Racing Honda team announcement, republished by Racer X. Photo: Phoenix Racing Honda — Avery Long in the team's announcement portrait.
